Dallas County ranked on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) list as one of the most vulnerable communities in Texas for “hazard-type risks.”
CW 33 reported that based on a National Risk Index, Dallas County is the third most vulnerable Texas county.
Ranking above Dallas County was Harris County in first and Cameron County in second.
FEMA data show that these counties are at the highest risk of flooding, fire, storms, and an assortment of other natural disasters.
Overall, the Texas risk score for a natural disaster is 12.89 on average, while the national average is 10.60.
FEMA developed the index by measuring hazards and taking into consideration the ability of the community to mitigate such disasters, including things like social vulnerability and community resilience, among other factors.
Scores are determined by the potential for damage and the ability of a community to protect itself from a natural disaster and respond to a crisis.
According to FEMA’s data, the risk index for Dallas County is higher than 99.4% of counties nationally. Dallas has a “very high” expected annual loss, a “relatively moderate” social vulnerability, and a “relatively low” community resilience. Its top threats are hail and tornados.
Harris County, which scored first on the list, has a “very high” expected annual loss, a “relatively moderate” social vulnerability, and a “relatively low” community resistance. Its risk index is higher than 99.9% of counties on the national level. Its top threats are hurricanes, riverine flooding, and tornados.
The full list of Texas counties and their FEMA National Risk Index scores are as follows:
- Harris County: 80.62
- Cameron County: 50.79
- Dallas County: 42.07
- Bexar County: 39.95
- Galveston County: 38.94
- Hidalgo County: 38.06
- Starr County: 36.22
- El Paso County: 35.67
- Jefferson County: 35.67
- Tarrant County: 31.52
- Parmer County: 31.46
- Nueces County: 30.64
- Lubbock County: 27.66
- Potter County: 24.86
- San Patricio County: 24.84
- Val Verde County: 24.84
- Matagorda County: 23.94
- Brazoria County: 24.25
- Montgomery County: 23.96
- Aransas County: 23.78