riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Ector County Disaster Risk

Ector County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

83th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#42

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

82th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Ector County

Risk Verdict

Ector County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 83th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Ector County, scoring in the 88th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 82th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (82th), earthquake (41th), hurricane (36th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Ector 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

Ector County is significantly riskier than the average county in Texas. Its composite risk score is 33.8 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 Ector County, TX?
Ector County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 83th 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 Ector County?
Ector County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (88th percentile), tornado (82th percentile), flooding (82th percentile), earthquake (41th percentile), hurricane (36th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 88th 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 Ector County risk compare to the Texas average?
Ector County's composite risk percentile is 83th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Ector County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Ector County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Ector County's wildfire risk is at the 88th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Ector County is at the 82th 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 Ector County higher risk than average?
Ector County's composite risk score of 83th percentile is above the Texas state average of 49th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (88th percentile), along with tornado and flooding 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

Wharton County

Texas

+0.2

Relatively Moderate

83th percentile

Hunt County

Texas

-0.6

Relatively Moderate

82th percentile

Wichita County

Texas

-0.9

Relatively Moderate

82th 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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