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Natural hazard risk in Wise County, Texas

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

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 58.9 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$20.3 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1981
20[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$2.5 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
62[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates the overall natural hazard risk for Wise County as Relatively Low compared with other US counties[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are wildfire, hail and heat 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 Wise County at $20.3 million a year[1]. This is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. FEMA's sorted loss values put inland flooding first, then tornado, then wildfire[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability as Relatively Low[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience as Very Low, which FEMA describes as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10]. The index does not predict next year's losses[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
WildfireRelatively Moderate$2.5 million[11]
HailRelatively Moderate$1.4 million[12]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$2.1 million[13]
TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.2 million[14]
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$216,000[15]
LandslideVery Low$2,749[16]
Inland FloodingRelatively Low$8.9 million[17]
Cold WaveRelatively Low$1.1 million[18]
Strong WindRelatively Low$517,000[19]
EarthquakeVery Low$149,000[20]
DroughtRelatively Low$50,000[21]
HurricaneVery Low$19,000[22]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$25,000[23]
LightningVery Low$81,000[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 Low38.2[9]
Community resilienceVery Low16.9[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Wise County as Relatively Low, with an Expected Annual Loss of $8.9 million a year[17]. OpenFEMA lists 156 residential flood insurance contracts in force, a penetration rate of 0.5%[26]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 17.1% of homes are insured[26]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims show 94 claims filed for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $2.5 million in total[3]. To check a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[17] Relatively Low, $8.9 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 156 of 28,449 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 613, of which 105 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 94 filed, $2.5 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 20 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Wise County since 1981[2]. The most recent were two winter storm declarations in February 2021[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 62 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-03-24[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Wise County, since 1981
Incident type Declarations
Fire[2] 6
Severe Storm[2] 5
Hurricane[2] 4
Flood[2] 2
Severe Ice Storm[2] 2
Drought[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4586-TX[28] Severe Winter Storms 2021-02-19
EM-3554-TX[28] Severe Winter Storm 2021-02-14
DR-4223-TX[28] Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding 2015-05-29
DR-4029-TX[28] Wildfires 2011-09-09
EM-3294-TX[28] Hurricane Ike 2008-09-10

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.

Wildfires

Before

  • Sign up for community alerts and watch for air quality alerts.
  • Make sure everyone knows the evacuation plan, including for school, work and other places you go often.
  • Keep a fire-resistant zone of at least 30 feet around your home, clear of leaves and debris.
  • Use fire-resistant building materials and keep a hose long enough to reach every part of your property.
  • Pick a room you can seal off from outside air and keep a portable air cleaner ready.

During

  • Leave right away when authorities tell you to evacuate.
  • If you are trapped, call 9-1-1 with your location and turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
  • If you are not ordered to leave but there is smoke, stay in a safe indoor place or go to a community building with less smoke.

Source: Ready.gov, wildfires

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

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 Wise County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Wise County as Relatively Low compared with other US counties[17]. FEMA's sorted loss values list inland flooding as the largest Expected Annual Loss at $8.9 million a year[8].
Does Wise County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 62 tornadoes touching Wise County from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[14].
Is Wise County at risk of earthquakes or hurricanes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Very Low[20] and hurricane risk Very Low[22] compared with other US counties.
How many disasters have been declared in Wise County?
OpenFEMA lists 20 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Wise County since 1981[2].
How do I check a flood zone for an address?
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 Wise County is $20.3 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Low, score 61.1). Of this, buildings account for $14.5 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $5.7 million... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 20 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Wise County since 1981 (11 major disaster, 9 emergency or fire management). By incident type: fire 6, severe storm 5, hurricane 4, flood 2, severe ice storm 2, drought 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 94 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Wise County, 67 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $2.5 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 62 recorded tornadoes touched Wise County. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 1957-04-02). 1 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-03-24. 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 Wise County is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 58.9 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 Wise County are wildfire (93.7, Relatively Moderate), hail (87.1, Relatively Moderate), heat wave (85.7, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. 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
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Wise County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($8.9 million a year), tornado ($3.2 million a year), wildfire ($2.5 million a year), out of $20.3 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Wise County is Relatively Low (score 38.2). 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 Wise County is Very Low (score 16.9). 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), wildfire in Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 93.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0054 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 87.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 9.89 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 85.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 14.68 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 75.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.86 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 Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 69.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $216,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.92 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), landslide in Wise County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 60.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2,749 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 60.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $8.9 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.82 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 55.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.05 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 48.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $517,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 4.03 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Wise County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 39.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $149,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0008 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 37.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $50,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 31.66 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Wise County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 33.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $19,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the Atlantic Basin... FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Wise County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 26.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $25,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 5.26 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Wise County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 23.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $81,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 52.06 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Wise 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): 156 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Wise County, out of 28,449 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.5%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 613 residential structures and 105 contracts, a rate of... 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.