riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Hemphill County Disaster Risk

Hemphill County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

17th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#200

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

4th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 4% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 90% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Hemphill County

Risk Verdict

Hemphill County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 17th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Hemphill County, scoring in the 90th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 51th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (23th), earthquake (16th), flood (4th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Hemphill 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

Hemphill County is notably safer than the average county in Texas. Its composite risk score is 32.5 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Hemphill County, TX?
Hemphill County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 17th 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 Hemphill County?
Hemphill County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (90th percentile), tornado (51th percentile), hurricane (23th percentile), earthquake (16th percentile), flooding (4th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 90th 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 Hemphill County risk compare to the Texas average?
Hemphill County's composite risk percentile is 17th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Hemphill County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Hemphill County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Hemphill County's wildfire risk is at the 90th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Hemphill County is at the 4th 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.
Is Hemphill County a safe place to live?
Hemphill County's composite risk score of 17th percentile is below the Texas state average of 49th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 90th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Baylor County

Texas

+1.0

Very Low

17th percentile

San Augustine County

Texas

+1.1

Very Low

18th percentile

Ward County

Texas

-1.1

Very Low

15th 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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