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

Yoakum County Disaster Risk

Yoakum County, Texas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

46th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#140

of 254 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

36th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 86% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 34% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 14% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Yoakum County, Texas

Yoakum County carries low national disaster risk

Yoakum County's composite risk score of 46.06 places it in the relatively low risk category and sits slightly below the national average for natural hazard exposure. The county's risk profile is dominated by wildfire concerns while other hazards remain minimal.

Below Texas average despite wildfire threat

Yoakum County scores 46.06, falling below Texas's state average of 49.00 and ranking among the safer counties in the state. This favorable position holds despite the county's elevated wildfire risk of 86.48, which is offset by very low exposure to earthquakes (13.99) and hurricanes (30.04).

Safest risk profile among West Texas peers

Yoakum County (46.06) ranks as the lowest-risk county in its peer group, significantly outperforming Wise County (58.97) and Wood County (63.23) while comparing closely to Zapata County (31.36) and Young County (36.35). Its advantage stems from very low tornado (34.29), earthquake (13.99), and hurricane (30.04) risks.

Wildfire dominates Yoakum County threats

Wildfire risk at 86.48 is Yoakum County's defining hazard, requiring serious preparedness investment in defensible space and emergency planning. Tornado (34.29), flood (36.35), and hurricane (30.04) risks remain low enough to warrant standard coverage but not specialized planning.

Wildfire insurance and defensible space first

Yoakum County homeowners should prioritize wildfire-specific coverage and maintain at least 30 feet of defensible space around structures by clearing dead vegetation and overhanging branches. Standard homeowners insurance covering tornado and wind damage provides adequate protection for the county's secondary hazards, but verify wildfire exclusions before signing a policy.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Yoakum County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    86th percentile
  2. #2
    FloodPrepare
    36th percentile
  3. #3
    TornadoPrepare
    34th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Yoakum County

Risk Verdict

At the 46th percentile nationally, Yoakum County experiences a manageable level of natural hazard risk that falls below the U.S. median. Yoakum County residents can take confidence from a 46th percentile ranking, but even lower-risk counties benefit from a practiced household communication plan and awareness of the specific hazards listed above.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Yoakum County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 86th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 36th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (34th percentile), hurricane (30th percentile), earthquake (14th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Wildfire ranks as Yoakum County's primary hazard at the 86th percentile nationally. For Yoakum County households in high-WUI areas, go-bag readiness — the ability to leave within 15 minutes — is more important than shelter-in-place planning for most residential properties. Alongside wildfire, flood at the 36th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. Yoakum County county's local emergency management office publishes community-specific wildfire risk assessments and evacuation zone maps; households should review their zone assignment and sign up for zone-specific alerts.

Regional Context

At 2.9 points from the Texas county mean, Yoakum County's overall disaster risk profile is close to typical for this state, with no dramatic deviation in either direction.

Is your household prepared for Yoakum 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 Yoakum County, TX?
Yoakum County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 46th 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 Yoakum County?
Yoakum County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (86th percentile), flooding (36th percentile), tornado (34th percentile), hurricane (30th percentile), earthquake (14th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 86th 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 Yoakum County risk compare to the Texas average?
Yoakum County's composite risk percentile is 46th, compared to the Texas state average of 49th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Yoakum County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Texas.
Is Yoakum County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Yoakum County's wildfire risk is at the 86th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Yoakum County is at the 36th 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 Yoakum County a safe place to live?
Yoakum County's composite risk score of 46th 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 86th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Wilbarger County

Texas

+0.0

Relatively Low

46th percentile

Jim Hogg County

Texas

-0.6

Relatively Low

45th percentile

Titus County

Texas

+0.8

Relatively Low

47th 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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