Comanche County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Comanche County has experienced 36 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Comanche County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, ice storm, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 20% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (92nd 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. Comanche County has been designated in 36 declarations since 1973, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (15), severe ice storm (8), fire (5).
| 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 |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 36 total declarations since 1973.
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 Moderate | 92.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 83.6 | 54 | 2 | $450K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 83.7 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 77.5 | 32 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 95.5 | 9 | 0 | $180K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 45.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 93.6 | 187 | 0 | $30K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 97.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 89.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 96.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 91.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 60.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 73.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 71.9 | 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
Comanche County ranks in the 92nd 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 | 92nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 81st | High |
| Household characteristics | 89th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 83rd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 93rd | 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 | 92nd | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 92nd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 31.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 282 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 128 in 2016–20 vs 154 in 2021–25 (+20% — 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 Comanche County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Comanche County, Oklahoma are strong wind, ice storm, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Comanche County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Comanche County has received 36 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (15 declarations).
Has Comanche County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Comanche County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2023.
How does Comanche County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Grady County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Cotton County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Comanche County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Comanche County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Comanche 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. Comanche County's composite score of 86 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 86% of US counties.