Garfield County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Garfield County has experienced 25 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Garfield County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, ice storm, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 79% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (77th 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. Garfield County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1973, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (10), 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, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 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 | Very Low | 53.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 67 | 24 | 0 | $25K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 58 | 235 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 86.4 | 65 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 92.2 | 7 | 0 | $30K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 28.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 93.2 | 98 | 0 | $5K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 76.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 74.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 96.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 97.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 34.6 | 4 | 0 | $115K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 85.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 41.5 | 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
Garfield County ranks in the 77th 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 | 77th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 68th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 93rd | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 64th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 55th | Moderate |
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 | 44th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 47th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 24.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 198 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 71 in 2016–20 vs 127 in 2021–25 (+79% — 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 Garfield County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Garfield County, Oklahoma are cold wave, ice storm, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Garfield County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Garfield County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Garfield County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Garfield County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Garfield County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Logan County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Grant County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Garfield County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Garfield County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Garfield 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. Garfield County's composite score of 82 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 82% of US counties.