Custer County, Oklahoma Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OK
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 62th
Custer County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 62.0, 62th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $19M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Custer County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 62.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 62nd 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.
Risk here concentrates in ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.20 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.87 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 8.72 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $19M in expected annual loss for a population of 28K.
Beyond physical exposure, Custer County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Custer County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1982, including 13 for severe storm events and 10 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (severe storm), declared in June 2024.
Among 77 Oklahoma counties, Custer County ranks #36 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.20 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.87 / yr | $7M |
| Hail | Medium | 8.72 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 81.55 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.17 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $256K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 9.05 / yr | $130K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 2.37 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.53 / yr | $517K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.28 / yr | $2K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $272K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.68 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $7K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 49.36 / yr | $41K |
| 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
Custer County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1982, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Severe Ice Storm (10), Flood (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| December 2020 | 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 |
| June 2018 | Fire | Wildfires |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| December 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Custer County?
Custer County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 62.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 62th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Custer County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Tornado (High, $7M EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Custer County compare to other Oklahoma counties?
Custer County ranks #36 of 77 Oklahoma counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Custer County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Custer County since 1982, most often 13 for severe storm events and 10 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in June 2024.
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. Custer County's $19M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.