riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Taylor County Disaster Risk

Taylor County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

84th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#40

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

83th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% 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 74% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 49% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Taylor County

Risk Verdict

Taylor County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 84th 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 Taylor County, scoring in the 90th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 83th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (74th), hurricane (49th), earthquake (39th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Taylor 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 flood 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

Taylor County is significantly riskier than the average county in Texas. Its composite risk score is 34.8 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Taylor County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Taylor County, TX?
Taylor County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 84th 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 Taylor County?
Taylor County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (90th percentile), flooding (83th percentile), tornado (74th percentile), hurricane (49th percentile), earthquake (39th 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 Taylor County risk compare to the Texas average?
Taylor County's composite risk percentile is 84th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Taylor County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Taylor County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Taylor County's wildfire risk is at the 90th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Taylor County is at the 83th 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 Taylor County higher risk than average?
Taylor County's composite risk score of 84th percentile is above the Texas state average of 49th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (90th percentile), along with flooding and 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

DeWitt County

Texas

+0.1

Relatively Moderate

84th percentile

Smith County

Texas

+0.3

Relatively Moderate

84th percentile

Kleberg County

Texas

+0.6

Relatively Moderate

84th 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.

Explore more data for Taylor County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score