Dewey County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Dewey County has experienced 35 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Jumping Juniper Fire in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Dewey County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, drought, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 100% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Dewey County has been designated in 35 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (18), severe ice storm (8), fire (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fire | Jumping Juniper Fire |
| 2025 | Fire | 840 Road Fire |
| 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, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2018 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2018 | Fire | Rhea Fire Complex |
Showing the 10 most recent of 35 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 Low | 73.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 5.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 23.3 | 7 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 26.7 | 28 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 39.1 | 3 | 0 | $3K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 11.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 39.3 | 30 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 43.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 25.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 94.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 38.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 1.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 86.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 54.5 | 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
Dewey County ranks in the 33rd 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 | 33rd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 43rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 36th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 53rd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 20th | Very 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 | 91st | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 91st | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 63.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 60 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 20 in 2016–20 vs 40 in 2021–25 (+100% — 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 Dewey County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Dewey County, Oklahoma are ice storm, drought, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Dewey County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Dewey County has received 35 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (18 declarations).
Has Dewey County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Dewey County include Jumping Juniper Fire (2026), 840 Road Fire (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Dewey County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Custer County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Roger Mills County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Dewey County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Dewey County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Dewey 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. Dewey County's composite score of 16 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 16% of US counties.