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Natural hazard risk in Dallas County, Texas

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Very High (score 99.6 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$973.2 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1966
25[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$69.6 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
107[4]

FEMA rates the overall natural hazard risk for Dallas County as Very High, with a Risk Index score of 99.6 out of 100[5]. Among the county's hazards, FEMA's highest scores are for hail, heat wave and cold wave[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Dallas County at $973.2 million a year[1]. The largest shares come from inland flooding, heat wave and hail, in that order[7]. Expected Annual Loss is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, and FEMA says the index does not predict next year's damage[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability as Relatively Moderate[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience as Very Low compared with other US counties[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
HailVery High$127.5 million[11]
Heat WaveVery High$288.4 million[12]
Cold WaveVery High$98.4 million[13]
TornadoVery High$114.8 million[14]
Ice StormVery High$4.7 million[15]
Inland FloodingVery High$323.7 million[16]
Winter WeatherVery High$1.3 million[17]
Strong WindVery High$5.3 million[18]
LightningVery High$2.6 million[19]
EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$5.4 million[20]
WildfireRelatively Low$349,000[21]
HurricaneRelatively Low$676,000[22]
LandslideVery Low$917[23]
DroughtRelatively Low$32,000[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Moderate59.1[9]
Community resilienceVery Low12.9[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Very High for Dallas County, with Expected Annual Loss of $323.7 million a year[16]. OpenFEMA lists 4,809 residential flood insurance contracts in force, a penetration rate of 0.8%[26]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 39.7% of homes are insured[26]. NFIP records show 3,457 claims for losses in the county from 1978 to 2026, and the program paid $69.6 million in total[3]. To check a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[16] Very High, $323.7 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 4,809 of 615,751 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 6,257, of which 2,482 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 3,457 filed, $69.6 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 25 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dallas County since 1966[2]. The most recent listed is DR-4781-TX for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding, declared 2024-05-17[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 107 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-03-16[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dallas County, since 1966
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 8
Severe Storm[2] 6
Flood[2] 4
Fire[2] 4
Severe Ice Storm[2] 2
Drought[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4781-TX[28] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2024-05-17
DR-4586-TX[28] Severe Winter Storms 2021-02-19
EM-3554-TX[28] Severe Winter Storm 2021-02-14
EM-3540-TX[28] Tropical Storms Marco And Laura 2020-08-24
DR-4332-TX[28] Hurricane Harvey 2017-08-25

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Tornadoes

Before

  • Learn the warning signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris or a loud roar like a freight train.
  • Sign up for community warning systems and learn what your local sirens sound like.
  • Pick a safe spot, such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter, and practice getting there.
  • Include your pets in the household emergency plan.
  • Keep supplies, food, water and medication in case you have to stay home for a long time.

During

  • Go right away to the safe place you picked in advance.
  • Protect your head and neck with your arms and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • No place in a car is fully safe. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down there.

Source: Ready.gov, tornadoes

Questions people ask

Is Dallas County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Very High for Dallas County compared with other US counties[16]. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center shows flood zones for a specific address[27].
Does Dallas County get tornadoes?
FEMA rates tornado risk Very High compared with other US counties[14]. NOAA's tornado database records 107 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4].
Is Dallas County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Moderate for Dallas County, with Expected Annual Loss of $5.4 million a year[20].
How many disasters have been declared in Dallas County?
OpenFEMA lists 25 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dallas County since 1966[2].
How can I check a flood zone?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Dallas County is $973.2 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively High, score 99.6). Of this, buildings account for $539.5 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $433.5... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 25 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dallas County since 1966 (14 major disaster, 11 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 8, severe storm 6, flood 4, fire 4, severe ice storm 2, drought 1. Biological (such as COVID-19)... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 3,457 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Dallas County, 2,494 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $69.6 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 107 recorded tornadoes touched Dallas County. The strongest were rated EF4 (most recent of them on 2015-12-26). 11 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-03-16. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Dallas County is Very High, with a Risk Index score of 99.6 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Dallas County are hail (100.0, Very High), heat wave (99.9, Very High), cold wave (99.8, Very High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores; FEMA's scores compare... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Dallas County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($323.7 million a year), heat wave ($288.4 million a year), hail ($127.5 million a year), out of $973.2 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Dallas County is Relatively Moderate (score 59.1). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Dallas County is Very Low (score 12.9). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 100.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $127.5 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 8.92 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $288.4 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 19.11 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $98.4 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 0.95 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $114.8 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 0.93 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.7 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 1.23 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $323.7 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 4.61 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 98.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.3 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 4.05 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 98.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5.3 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 4.36 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 98.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.6 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 56.16 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 91.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5.4 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0009 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 80.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $349,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0005 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 73.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $676,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the... FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 46.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $917 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Dallas County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 34.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $32,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 30.08 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Dallas County: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 4,809 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Dallas County, out of 615,751 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.8%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 6,257 residential structures and 2,482 contracts,... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.