FEMA Records
31
High volume
Texas · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Orange County, TX
31 FEMA disaster declarations (1973-2024), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate. Most common hazard: Hurricane.
- 31
- FEMA declarations
- 21
- Major disasters
- 86
- NRI risk · Relatively Moderate
- Hurricane
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Orange County. Its 31 FEMA declarations are 48% above the Texas county mean and exceed the count for 88% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 14%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 14%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Moderate
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 31
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 12,875
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records; an EM authorizes a narrower set of federal assistance than a DR.
FEMA OpenFEMA declaration desk
County FIPS 48361 · Orange County 31 declarations · rank 348/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-MID · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-ABOVE
- DECL-HEAVY 31
- MAJOR-MID 68%
- RANK-MID #348
- PHOTO-FINISH Galveston
- NRI-MID 86
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Hurricane
- VS-ST-ABOVE +48%
Nearest declaration peer: Galveston, TX (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · Texas state profile
Orange County among high-volume declaration counties
FEMA declaration records among Orange County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Galveston · near 31
Galveston · near
31 declarations
- Orange · this county 31
Orange · this county
31 declarations
- Polk · near 31
Polk · near
31 declarations
- Woodward · near 31
Woodward · near
31 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Orange County carries 31 FEMA declaration records, ranked 348 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Where Orange County ranks in the national declaration registry
Orange County vs. high-volume counties in this registry
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Orange County
31 Top 12% higher than 88% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-25
Orange County's FEMA Risk Index score
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Orange County is led by Hurricane (about $21.5M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively High), while Lightning carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High). EAL and risk score use different inputs; they need not agree.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025 release) - Expected Annual Loss vs composite risk rating by hazard.
What does Orange County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
FEMA's NFIP table contains a substantial paid-claim history for this county: 12,875 claims and $1.0B in payments. PlainHazard labels 500 or more claims a heavy registry record; that is a reporting bucket, not an official FEMA risk grade. The average paid claim was $81.0K. NFIP totals exclude uninsured flood losses and do not measure how many properties currently carry a policy.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Orange County's 31 federal records stand 48% above the Texas county mean of 20.9. That comparison describes how often federal action was recorded, including any Major Disaster, Emergency, and Fire Management entries shown on this page; it does not convert the count into future probability.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 85.9/100 (Relatively Moderate). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Moderate (roughly $54.3M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively Moderate and community resilience Relatively High, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Lightning stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 80 times per year here, based on 223,693 historical events on record.
78 /100
Historical Activity Index
Very High historical activity
Orange County, TX · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) High
22/30
31 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.5x national county average)
County Disaster Density Very High
19/25
31 declarations (1.5x state county average of 21)
Major Disaster Share High
17/25
21 of 31 declarations are major disasters (68%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
8 different disaster types declared in Orange County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Orange County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
68%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
86
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Orange County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | an average of 80 times per year |
| Hurricane | Relatively High | roughly once every 7 years |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 176 years |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 4 years |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | roughly once every 2 years |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | an average of 3.7 times per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | an average of 2.4 times per year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 10 modeled event-days per year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 1 years |
| Earthquake | Very Low | roughly once every 1,531 years |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 21 modeled event-days per year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | roughly once every 2 years |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | roughly once every 1 years |
| Hail | Very Low | an average of 1.5 times per year |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 30 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Hurricane 10
Flood 6
Severe Storm 5
Fire 4
Severe Ice Storm 2
Biological 2
Other 1
Coastal Storm 1
What Hurricane declarations mean here
Hurricane is the most frequent declaration type on Orange County's federal record, 32% of its declarations. Atlantic tropical systems run on a defined season, 1 June to 30 November, with most activity concentrated between August and October; Pacific and territorial basins run on their own calendars. A single named storm routinely produces one declaration number covering a long corridor of counties at once, well inland as well as on the coast, which is why an affected county's count can jump by several in one year without several separate events having occurred.
One practical distinction matters when reading these records: a tropical declaration usually bundles wind, storm surge and inland rainfall flooding under a single incident, but the insurance behind them is split. Wind damage falls to property insurers, while flood and surge damage is covered only under a separate National Flood Insurance Program policy. That is why a county can show heavy declaration activity and a comparatively small NFIP claims record, or the reverse.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 21 67.7%
of all 31 declarations
Emergency - 10 32.3%
of all 31 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 4 | |
| 2017 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 4 | |
| 2006 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 3 | |
| 2003 | 2 | |
| 2001 | 1 | |
| 1999 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 1 | |
| 1995 | 1 | |
Show 3 earlier declaration years
| 1989 | 2 | |
| 1979 | 2 | |
| 1973 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 31 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 31 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4798 | HURRICANE BERYL | DR | Hurricane | 2024-07-09 |
| 4586 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS | DR | Severe Ice Storm | 2021-02-19 |
| 3554 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | EM | Severe Ice Storm | 2021-02-14 |
| 4572 | HURRICANE LAURA | DR | Hurricane | 2020-12-09 |
| 3540 | TROPICAL STORMS MARCO AND LAURA | EM | Hurricane | 2020-08-24 |
| 4485 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-25 |
| 3458 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 4466 | TROPICAL STORM IMELDA | DR | Flood | 2019-10-04 |
| 4332 | HURRICANE HARVEY | DR | Hurricane | 2017-08-25 |
| 4266 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2016-03-19 |
| 4223 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2015-05-29 |
| 4029 | WILDFIRES | DR | Fire | 2011-09-09 |
| 1791 | HURRICANE IKE | DR | Hurricane | 2008-09-13 |
| 3294 | HURRICANE IKE | EM | Hurricane | 2008-09-10 |
| 3290 | HURRICANE GUSTAV | EM | Hurricane | 2008-08-29 |
| 3284 | WILDFIRES | EM | Fire | 2008-03-14 |
| 1624 | EXTREME WILDFIRE THREAT | DR | Fire | 2006-01-11 |
| 1606 | HURRICANE RITA | DR | Hurricane | 2005-09-24 |
| 3261 | HURRICANE RITA | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-21 |
| 3216 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-02 |
Show 11 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3171 | LOSS OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA | EM | Other | 2003-02-01 |
| 1439 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2002-11-05 |
| 1379 | TX-TROPICAL STORM ALLISON-06-06-2001 | DR | Coastal Storm | 2001-06-09 |
| 3142 | EXTREME FIRE HAZARDS | EM | Fire | 1999-09-01 |
| 1239 | TROPICAL STORM CHARLEY | DR | Severe Storm | 1998-08-26 |
| 1041 | SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1994-10-18 |
| 836 | TROPICAL STORM ALLISON | DR | Flood | 1989-07-18 |
| 828 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 1989-05-19 |
| 595 | STORMS & FLASH FLOODS | DR | Flood | 1979-07-28 |
| 580 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 1979-04-26 |
| 393 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1973-06-25 |
Storm Events in Texas
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Orange County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 14,072 | 0 | 15 | $7.4B |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 10,293 | 41 | 141 | $369.9M |
| Drought | 7,032 | 0 | 0 | $86.0K |
| Flash Flood | 4,728 | 338 | 24 | $47.6B |
| Heat | 4,079 | 119 | 405 | $0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
12,875
Total Paid
$1.0B
Avg Per Claim
$81.0K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Score: 85.9/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Moderate
$54.3M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Community Resilience
Relatively High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Lightning Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Tornado Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively High
Coastal Flooding Relatively Moderate
Riverine Flooding Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Very Low
Drought Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Lightning
Lightning is modeled as a high-frequency, low-per-event hazard: strike counts are large, but each strike affects a very small area. Its aggregate cost accumulates through structure fires, electrical and electronic damage, and it is one of the few hazards whose risk is essentially continuous through the season rather than episodic.
Worth noting for Orange County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Lightning carries the highest modeled rating (Relatively High), while the county's declaration history is led by Hurricane. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Orange County's closest FEMA peer: Yazoo County, MS
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Orange County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Orange County shows 31 FEMA declarations, led by Hurricane.
Similar Major-disaster share
Orange County: 21 of 31 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Orange County: NRI composite 85.9 (Relatively Moderate).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Orange County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Orange County: nearest out-of-state National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar NRI composite
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA NRI score. This county: 85.9 (Relatively Moderate).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 31. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Orange County's NFIP claims file (12,875 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Orange County?
The most common disaster type in Orange County is Hurricane, with 10 declarations. Other disaster types include Flood (6), Severe Storm (5), Fire (4).
How does Orange County's FEMA declaration record compare with the Texas average?
FEMA lists 31 declaration records for Orange County. That is 48% above the Texas county mean of 20.9. Its count is also 50% above the national county mean of 20.7. A larger declaration history records more federal actions; it is not a forecast of the county's next hazard.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Orange County received?
Orange County has received 21 major disaster declarations, representing 68% of all 31 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Orange County filed?
Orange County has 12,875 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $1.0B in payments, with an average of $81.0K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Orange County?
No. In Orange County, Lightning has the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High), while Hurricane leads Expected Annual Loss at about $21.5M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Orange County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Orange County was 2008, with 4 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1973 to 2024.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Orange County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Orange County, Texas has an overall risk score of 85.9 out of 100 (Relatively Moderate). The county's social vulnerability rating is Relatively Moderate and community resilience is Relatively High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Moderate, representing $54.3M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Orange County?
Based on FEMA NRI data, the highest-risk natural hazard in Orange County as of the latest release is Lightning (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Hurricane (Relatively High) and Wildfire (Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts lightning here at an average of 80 times per year, drawn from 223,693 historical events on record. FEMA derives these ratings from historical event frequency, the assets exposed, and the community's vulnerability profile.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
FEMA OpenFEMA declarations + NRI for Orange County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · Texas profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events