riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Fayette County Disaster Risk

Fayette County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

58th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#117

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

65th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 50% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 81% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Fayette County

Risk Verdict

Fayette County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 58th 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

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Fayette County, scoring in the 81th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 71th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (65th), wildfire (50th), earthquake (22th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Fayette County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. 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

Fayette County is significantly riskier than the average county in Texas. Its composite risk score is 9 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 Fayette County, TX?
Fayette County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 58th 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 Fayette County?
Fayette County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (81th percentile), tornado (71th percentile), flooding (65th percentile), wildfire (50th percentile), earthquake (22th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 81th 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 Fayette County risk compare to the Texas average?
Fayette County's composite risk percentile is 58th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Fayette County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Fayette County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Fayette County's hurricane risk is at the 81th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Fayette County is at the 65th 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 Fayette County higher risk than average?
Fayette County's composite risk score of 58th percentile is above the Texas state average of 49th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (81th 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

Milam County

Texas

+0.1

Relatively Low

58th percentile

Gillespie County

Texas

-0.3

Relatively Low

58th percentile

Leon County

Texas

+0.3

Relatively Low

58th 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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