Choctaw County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Choctaw County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Choctaw County's highest-rated hazards are drought, ice storm, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 55 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (95th 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. Choctaw County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1968, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (10), severe ice storm (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 total declarations since 1968.
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 | 65.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 26.8 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 45.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 85.2 | 18 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 80.6 | 5 | 0 | $4.2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 43.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 66.1 | 28 | 0 | $200K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 40.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 43.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 89.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 43.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 25.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 96.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 21.9 | 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
Choctaw County ranks in the 95th 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 | 95th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 94th | High |
| Household characteristics | 96th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 80th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 76th | High |
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 | 77th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 73rd | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 80.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 55 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 29 in 2016–20 vs 26 in 2021–25 (-10% — relatively stable).
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 Choctaw County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Choctaw County, Oklahoma are drought, ice storm, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Choctaw County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Choctaw County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Choctaw County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Choctaw County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2023.
How does Choctaw County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lamar County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Atoka County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Choctaw County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Choctaw County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Choctaw 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. Choctaw County's composite score of 50 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 50% of US counties.