riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Deaf Smith County Disaster Risk

Deaf Smith County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

62th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#99

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

13th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 13% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 86% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 70% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Deaf Smith County

Risk Verdict

Deaf Smith County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 62th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Deaf Smith County, scoring in the 86th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 70th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (39th), flood (13th), hurricane (0th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Deaf Smith County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Deaf Smith County is significantly riskier than the average county in Texas. Its composite risk score is 12.8 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Deaf Smith County, TX?
Deaf Smith County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 62th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Deaf Smith County?
Deaf Smith County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (86th percentile), tornado (70th percentile), earthquake (39th percentile), flooding (13th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 86th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Deaf Smith County risk compare to the Texas average?
Deaf Smith County's composite risk percentile is 62th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Deaf Smith County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Deaf Smith County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Deaf Smith County's wildfire risk is at the 86th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Deaf Smith County is at the 13th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Deaf Smith County higher risk than average?
Deaf Smith County's composite risk score of 62th percentile is above the Texas state average of 49th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (86th percentile), along with tornado risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Moore County

Texas

+0.1

Relatively Low

62th percentile

Cherokee County

Texas

-0.2

Relatively Low

62th percentile

Colorado County

Texas

+0.4

Relatively Low

62th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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