Sequoyah County, Oklahoma Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OK
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 79th
Sequoyah County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 79.1, 79th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $24M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sequoyah County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 79.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 79th 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 Sequoyah County's expected losses come from wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 1.77 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 24.21 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $24M in expected annual loss for a population of 39K.
Beyond physical exposure, Sequoyah County has a very 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 federal record bears this out: Sequoyah County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 15 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, Sequoyah County ranks #16 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.77 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 24.21 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | High | 59.74 / yr | $644K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.69 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Medium | 15.50 / yr | $563K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.99 / yr | $696K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 7.32 / yr | $99K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.96 / yr | $9M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $396K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.11 / yr | $992K |
| Hail | Low | 7.49 / yr | $196K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.34 / yr | $786 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $19K |
| 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
Sequoyah County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storms in February 2021. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (15), Severe Ice Storm (7), Flood (5).
| 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 |
| June 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2019 | Flood | 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 |
| May 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 31 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Sequoyah County?
Sequoyah County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 79.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 79th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Sequoyah County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Medium, $3M EAL), Ice Storm (Very High, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $4M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Sequoyah County compare to other Oklahoma counties?
Sequoyah County ranks #16 of 77 Oklahoma counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Sequoyah County had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for Sequoyah County since 1972, most often 15 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. Sequoyah County's $24M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.