Cherokee County, Oklahoma Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OK
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 77th
Cherokee County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 76.9, 77th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $28M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cherokee County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 76.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 77th 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.
Most of Cherokee County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 1.64 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 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 18.32 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $28M in expected annual loss for a population of 47K.
Beyond physical exposure, Cherokee County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Cherokee County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 13 for severe storm events and 7 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (severe storm), declared in June 2022.
Among 77 Oklahoma counties, Cherokee County ranks #19 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.64 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 18.32 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Medium | 17.07 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | High | 57.29 / yr | $647K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.85 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 3.46 / yr | $14M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.79 / yr | $135K |
| Hail | Low | 8.79 / yr | $373K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.59 / yr | $3K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.58 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $355K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 7.04 / yr | $444K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $13K |
| 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
Cherokee County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2022. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Severe Ice Storm (7), Flood (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| June 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| July 2017 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| May 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cherokee County?
Cherokee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 76.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 77th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cherokee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $1M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cherokee County compare to other Oklahoma counties?
Cherokee County ranks #19 of 77 Oklahoma counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cherokee County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Cherokee County since 1973, most often 13 for severe storm events and 7 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in June 2022.
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. Cherokee County's $28M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.