Bryan County, Oklahoma Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OK
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 75th
Bryan County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 74.6, 75th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $24M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Bryan County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 74.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 75th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 1.43 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $8M in expected annual loss and about 0.73 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 21.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $24M in expected annual loss for a population of 46K.
Beyond physical exposure, Bryan County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Bryan County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 11 for severe storm events and 7 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms (severe ice storm), declared in February 2021.
Among 77 Oklahoma counties, Bryan County ranks #25 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.43 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | High | 0.73 / yr | $8M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 21.00 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Medium | 6.78 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 38.81 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $681K |
| Lightning | Medium | 55.79 / yr | $503K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.05 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $407K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.20 / yr | $533K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 5.11 / yr | $54K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.82 / yr | $5M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $37K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.22 / yr | $419 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Bryan County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storms in February 2021. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Severe Ice Storm (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| December 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| May 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| February 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| February 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bryan County?
Bryan County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 74.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 75th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bryan County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $1M EAL), Tornado (High, $8M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bryan County compare to other Oklahoma counties?
Bryan County ranks #25 of 77 Oklahoma counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Bryan County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Bryan County since 1972, most often 11 for severe storm events and 7 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, declared in February 2021.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Bryan County's $24M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.