Alfalfa County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Alfalfa County has experienced 30 federally declared disasters since 1993, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Alfalfa County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, drought, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 222% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (30th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Alfalfa County has been designated in 30 declarations since 1993, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (16), severe ice storm (8), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2017 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2016 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 total declarations since 1993.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 60.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 22.4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 25.3 | 239 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 47.8 | 45 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 44.7 | 7 | 0 | $440K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 22.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 69.4 | 21 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 37.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 21.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 94.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 82.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 9.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 90.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 22.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Alfalfa County ranks in the 30th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 30th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 30th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 38th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 51st | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 31st | Low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 82nd | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 86th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 36.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 76 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 18 in 2016–20 vs 58 in 2021–25 (+222% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Alfalfa County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma are ice storm, drought, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Alfalfa County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Alfalfa County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1993, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (16 declarations).
Has Alfalfa County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Alfalfa County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Alfalfa County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Garfield County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Grant County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Alfalfa County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Alfalfa County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Alfalfa County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Alfalfa County's composite score of 41 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 41% of US counties.