Harper County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Harper County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 2001, 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.
Harper County's highest-rated hazards are drought, ice storm, and wildfire, 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.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Harper County has been designated in 19 declarations since 2001, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (9), severe ice storm (5), fire (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 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2017 | Fire | Nw Oklahoma Wildfire Outbreak Complex |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 2001.
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 | 81.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 6.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 16.5 | 4 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 30 | 27 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 30.6 | 7 | 0 | $80K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 28.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 69.5 | 43 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 25.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 97.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 71.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 7.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 98.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 7.2 | 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
Harper County ranks in the 40th 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 | 40th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 31st | Low |
| Household characteristics | 85th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 65th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 15th | 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 | 98th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 97th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 76 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 22 in 2016–20 vs 54 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 Harper County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Harper County, Oklahoma are drought, ice storm, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Harper County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Harper County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 2001, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Harper County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Harper County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2023.
How does Harper County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Woodward County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Clark County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Harper County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Harper County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Harper 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. Harper County's composite score of 46 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 46% of US counties.