riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Live Oak County Disaster Risk

Live Oak County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

34th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#162

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

25th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 25% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 5% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 79% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Live Oak County, Texas

Live Oak County: Very Low Risk

Live Oak County scores 33.75 on the composite risk scale, earning a Very Low rating and sitting 31% below the Texas state average of 49.00. The county enjoys one of the lowest overall disaster exposures in the state, though coastal proximity brings some hurricane risk.

Live Oak's Low-Risk Ranking

Live Oak County's composite risk of 33.75 places it among Texas's lowest-risk counties statewide, with minimal exposure to floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and wildfires. The county benefits from inland location and relatively stable weather patterns.

Live Oak Among South Texas

Live Oak County (33.75) is substantially safer than Leon County (58.30), Limestone County (59.26), and Llano County (70.39) to the north and west. It sits only slightly higher than Lipscomb County (27.89) and remains well below Liberty County (79.52) and Lubbock County (96.25).

Live Oak's Hurricane Exposure

Hurricane risk (79.43) stands as Live Oak County's dominant hazard, reflecting Gulf Coast proximity despite the county's overall low-risk profile. All other hazards—flood (25.29), wildfire (46.02), tornado (38.96), and earthquake (4.93)—remain relatively minor.

Smart Coverage for Live Oak Homes

Live Oak County residents should ensure their homeowners insurance includes strong wind and hurricane coverage, the county's primary exposure area. Flood insurance is optional but affordable given the low flood risk, allowing you to focus resources on hurricane preparedness.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Live Oak County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    79th percentile
  2. #2
    WildfirePrepare
    46th percentile
  3. #3
    TornadoPrepare
    39th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Live Oak County

Risk Verdict

Compared to the nation's 3,144 counties, Live Oak County ranks at the 34th percentile for natural disaster risk — toward the safer end of the spectrum. At the 34th percentile, Live Oak County's risk profile is among the more manageable in the country — the hazard-specific breakdown above shows where any remaining preparedness focus is best directed.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Live Oak County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 79th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Wildfire ranks second at the 46th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (39th percentile), flood (25th percentile), earthquake (5th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane ranked at the 79th percentile nationally, Live Oak County sits in a zone where multi-day supply readiness matters: grid outages after landfalling storms can last one to three weeks in heavily affected areas. Wildfire, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 46th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Live Oak County independent of hurricane season. Insurance gaps are the most common post-hurricane financial shock: standard homeowners policies typically exclude flood damage and may have a separate wind deductible. Live Oak County households benefit from a pre-season insurance review confirming both wind and flood coverage.

Regional Context

At 15.3 points below the Texas state average, Live Oak County is among the lower-risk counties in the state for natural disaster exposure.

Is your household prepared for Live Oak County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Live Oak County, TX?
Live Oak County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 34th 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 Live Oak County?
Live Oak County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (79th percentile), wildfire (46th percentile), tornado (39th percentile), flooding (25th percentile), earthquake (5th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 79th 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 Live Oak County risk compare to the Texas average?
Live Oak County's composite risk percentile is 34th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Live Oak County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Live Oak County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Live Oak County's hurricane risk is at the 79th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Live Oak County is at the 25th 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 Live Oak County a safe place to live?
Live Oak County's composite risk score of 34th 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 hurricane at the 79th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Hartley County

Texas

-0.6

Very Low

33th percentile

Castro County

Texas

+0.7

Very Low

34th percentile

Blanco County

Texas

-0.7

Very Low

33th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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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