Hughes County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hughes County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Hughes County's highest-rated hazards are hail, wildfire, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 708% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (79th 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. Hughes County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1974, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (11), severe ice storm (7), flood (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 total declarations since 1974.
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 | 89.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 17.5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 36.4 | 8 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 61.8 | 71 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 64.3 | 6 | 3 | $2.0M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 37.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 92.6 | 30 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 22.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 48.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 85.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 52.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 29.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 65.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 62 | 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
Hughes County ranks in the 79th 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 | 79th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 80th | High |
| Household characteristics | 73rd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 78th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 61st | 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 | 97th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 95th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 77.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 109 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 12 in 2016–20 vs 97 in 2021–25 (+708% — 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 Hughes County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hughes County, Oklahoma are hail, wildfire, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Hughes County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hughes County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has Hughes County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hughes County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Hughes County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Pittsburg County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Coal County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Hughes County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Hughes County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hughes 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. Hughes County's composite score of 34 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 34% of US counties.