Jefferson County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Jefferson County has experienced 30 federally declared disasters since 1971, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2025. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Jefferson County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 391% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (81st 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. Jefferson County has been designated in 30 declarations since 1971, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (17), severe ice storm (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 total declarations since 1971.
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 | 78.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 14.2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 34.2 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 49.9 | 97 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 54.3 | 5 | 0 | $100K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 32.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40.6 | 23 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 67.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 18.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 62 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 24 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 6.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 91.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 21.4 | 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
Jefferson County ranks in the 81st 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 | 81st | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 72nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 99th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 60th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 40th | 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 | 89th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 88th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 60.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 130 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 22 in 2016–20 vs 108 in 2021–25 (+391% — 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 Jefferson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Jefferson County, Oklahoma are drought, wildfire, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Jefferson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Jefferson County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including declarations in 2025. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (17 declarations).
Has Jefferson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Jefferson County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1971.
How does Jefferson County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Carter County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Cotton County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Jefferson County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Jefferson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Jefferson 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. Jefferson County's composite score of 21 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 21% of US counties.