riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Waller County Disaster Risk

Waller County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

70th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#81

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

66th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 90% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 29% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Waller County

Risk Verdict

Waller County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 70th 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

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Waller County, scoring in the 90th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 83th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (71th), flood (66th), earthquake (29th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Waller County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as hurricane 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

Waller County is significantly riskier than the average county in Texas. Its composite risk score is 21.3 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 Waller County, TX?
Waller County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 70th 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 Waller County?
Waller County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (90th percentile), hurricane (83th percentile), wildfire (71th percentile), flooding (66th percentile), earthquake (29th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado 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 Waller County risk compare to the Texas average?
Waller County's composite risk percentile is 70th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Waller County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Waller County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Waller County's tornado risk is at the 90th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Waller County is at the 66th 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 Waller County higher risk than average?
Waller County's composite risk score of 70th percentile is above the Texas state average of 49th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by tornado exposure (90th percentile), along with hurricane and wildfire 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

Llano County

Texas

+0.1

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Uvalde County

Texas

-0.2

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Hood County

Texas

+0.3

Relatively Low

71th 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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