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

Van Zandt County Disaster Risk

Van Zandt County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

59th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#113

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

54th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 69% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Van Zandt County, Texas

Van Zandt's Moderate Risk Level

Van Zandt County scores 58.78 on the composite risk scale, ranking as relatively low despite exceeding the Texas average of 49.00 by 10 points. This places the county slightly above the national median, indicating manageable but present disaster exposure.

Van Zandt's Rank Among Texas Counties

Van Zandt falls in the middle range of Texas counties for overall disaster risk, with its 58.78 score placing it moderately above the state average. The county's risk profile reflects typical North Texas exposure patterns.

How Van Zandt Compares Locally

Van Zandt's score of 58.78 is lower than Walker County (73.82) and Waller County (70.26) but higher than Ward County's very low 15.36. The county's moderate risk sits near the state average, reflecting its transitional position between high-risk East Texas and lower-risk West Texas.

Van Zandt's Primary Hazards

Tornadoes present the highest risk in Van Zandt County with a score of 77.77, followed by hurricane exposure at 62.75 and wildfire risk at 69.08. Earthquake risk remains relatively low at 44.56, while flooding reaches 53.63.

Securing Your Van Zandt Property

Tornado preparedness is essential—ensure your home has a safe room or basement shelter and sign up for weather alerts through local emergency management. Bundle comprehensive homeowners insurance with windstorm coverage to protect against both tornadoes and high winds, which are recurring threats in this North Texas county.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Van Zandt County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    TornadoPrepare
    78th percentile
  2. #2
    WildfirePrepare
    69th percentile
  3. #3
    HurricanePrepare
    63th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Van Zandt County

Risk Verdict

Van Zandt County sits below the national average for natural disaster exposure, ranking at the 59th percentile across all U.S. counties. Understanding the specific hazards behind Van Zandt County's ranking helps residents prioritize where to direct emergency planning efforts.

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado risk is Van Zandt County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 78th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Wildfire ranks second at the 69th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include hurricane (63th percentile), flood (54th percentile), earthquake (45th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Ranked at the 78th percentile nationally for tornado risk, Van Zandt County is in a zone where storm shelters have the highest per-dollar protective value of any mitigation investment. Van Zandt County's county shelter map is typically available through the local emergency management office. Wildfire is the second hazard driver for Van Zandt County at the 69th percentile nationally, meaning households should maintain awareness of both severe-weather and wildfire-specific warning systems. Van Zandt County residents can check the county's emergency management website for community shelter locations nearest their address — a step worth completing now, not during a warning.

Regional Context

A composite score 9.8 points above the Texas state average puts Van Zandt County in a higher-risk category than most counties in the state.

Is your household prepared for Van Zandt 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 Van Zandt County, TX?
Van Zandt County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 59th 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 Van Zandt County?
Van Zandt County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (78th percentile), wildfire (69th percentile), hurricane (63th percentile), flooding (54th percentile), earthquake (45th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 78th 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 Van Zandt County risk compare to the Texas average?
Van Zandt County's composite risk percentile is 59th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Van Zandt County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Van Zandt County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Van Zandt County's tornado risk is at the 78th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Van Zandt County is at the 54th 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 Van Zandt County higher risk than average?
Van Zandt County's composite risk score of 59th percentile is above the Texas state average of 49th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by tornado exposure (78th percentile), along with wildfire and hurricane 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

San Jacinto County

Texas

+0.1

Relatively Low

59th percentile

Wise County

Texas

+0.2

Relatively Low

59th percentile

Karnes County

Texas

-0.3

Relatively Low

58th 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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