Woodward County, Oklahoma Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · OK
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 42th
Woodward County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 41.6, 42th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $13M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Woodward County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 41.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 42nd national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Woodward County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $872K in expected annual loss and about 0.78 events per year; 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; and drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $908K in expected annual loss and about 94.03 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $13M in expected annual loss for a population of 20K.
Beyond physical exposure, Woodward County has a low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Woodward County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1993, including 11 for fire events and 10 for severe storm events. The most recent was 43 Fire (fire), declared in February 2026.
Among 77 Oklahoma counties, Woodward County ranks #50 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 0.78 / yr | $872K |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 94.03 / yr | $908K |
| Hail | Medium | 7.50 / yr | $775K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.68 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.84 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 10.26 / yr | $83K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.50 / yr | $600K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.33 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.84 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.86 / yr | $4M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $97K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $6K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 47.53 / yr | $51K |
| 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
Woodward County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1993, most recently 43 Fire in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Fire (11), Severe Storm (10), Severe Ice Storm (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Fire | 43 Fire |
| April 2024 | Fire | 57 Fire |
| July 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| November 2019 | Fire | Highway 50 Fire |
| June 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| June 2018 | Fire | Wildfires |
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 Woodward County?
Woodward County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 41.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 42th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Woodward County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $872K EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL), Drought (Medium, $908K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Woodward County compare to other Oklahoma counties?
Woodward County ranks #50 of 77 Oklahoma counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Woodward County had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for Woodward County since 1993, most often 11 for fire events and 10 for severe storm events. The most recent was 43 Fire, declared in February 2026.
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. Woodward County's $13M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.