Carter County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Carter County has experienced 33 federally declared disasters since 1971, most recently Hospital Road Fire in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Carter County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, hail, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 145% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (78th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Carter County has been designated in 33 declarations since 1971, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (13), fire (7), severe ice storm (6).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fire | Hospital Road Fire |
| 2024 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 33 total declarations since 1971.
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 | Relatively Low | 88.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 63.4 | 16 | 0 | $60K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 65 | 3 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 91.9 | 89 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 94 | 12 | 0 | $21.6M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 42.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 94 | 90 | 0 | $5K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 85.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 69.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 91.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 59.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 57.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 82.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 58.7 | 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
Carter County ranks in the 78th percentile (High) 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 | 78th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 65th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 97th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 70th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 47th | 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 | 88th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 86th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 59.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 207 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 60 in 2016–20 vs 147 in 2021–25 (+145% — 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 Carter County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Carter County, Oklahoma are tornado, hail, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Carter County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Carter County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (13 declarations).
Has Carter County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Carter County include Hospital Road Fire (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1971.
How does Carter County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Stephens County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Jefferson County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Carter County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Carter County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Carter 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. Carter County's composite score of 75 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 75% of US counties.