Okmulgee County, Oklahoma Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OK
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 75th
Okmulgee County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 74.6, 75th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $23M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Okmulgee County at low composite risk, 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 — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.33 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 26.56 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $23M in expected annual loss for a population of 37K.
Beyond physical exposure, Okmulgee County has a very 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: Okmulgee County has received 40 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 19 for severe storm events and 8 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (tornado), declared in April 2024.
Among 77 Oklahoma counties, Okmulgee County ranks #26 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.33 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | High | 26.56 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 26.16 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 9.00 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.83 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.32 / yr | $135K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.96 / yr | $8M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 6.12 / yr | $540K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $334K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $2K |
| Lightning | Low | 55.22 / yr | $189K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $6K |
| 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
Okmulgee County has received 40 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in April 2024. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (19), Severe Ice Storm (8), Tornado (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2024 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| July 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| June 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| July 2017 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 40 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Okmulgee County?
Okmulgee 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 Okmulgee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Drought (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Okmulgee County compare to other Oklahoma counties?
Okmulgee County ranks #26 of 77 Oklahoma counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Okmulgee County had?
FEMA records 40 federal disaster declarations for Okmulgee County since 1971, most often 19 for severe storm events and 8 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in April 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. Okmulgee County's $23M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.