riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Ward County Disaster Risk

Ward County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

15th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#201

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

27th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 75% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Ward County

Risk Verdict

Ward County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 15th 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 Ward County, scoring in the 75th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 27th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (27th), earthquake (21th), hurricane (21th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Ward 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

Ward County is notably safer than the average county in Texas. Its composite risk score is 33.6 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 Ward County, TX?
Ward County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 15th 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 Ward County?
Ward County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (75th percentile), flooding (27th percentile), tornado (27th percentile), earthquake (21th percentile), hurricane (21th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 75th 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 Ward County risk compare to the Texas average?
Ward County's composite risk percentile is 15th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Ward County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Ward County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Ward County's wildfire risk is at the 75th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Ward County is at the 27th 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 Ward County a safe place to live?
Ward County's composite risk score of 15th 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 75th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Callahan County

Texas

-0.7

Very Low

15th percentile

Clay County

Texas

-1.1

Very Low

14th percentile

Hemphill County

Texas

+1.1

Very Low

17th 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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