Latimer County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Latimer County has experienced 30 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Latimer County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, ice storm, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 29% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (84th 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. Latimer County has been designated in 30 declarations since 1968, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (12), severe ice storm (6), tornado (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 total declarations since 1968.
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 | 92.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 40.6 | 4 | 1 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 35.2 | 3 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 66 | 23 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 52.4 | 2 | 0 | $75K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 36.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 58.3 | 19 | 0 | $70K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 24.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 42.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 87.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 21.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 32.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 48.2 | 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
Latimer County ranks in the 84th 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 | 84th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 88th | High |
| Household characteristics | 67th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 77th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 70th | 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 | 94th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 85.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 48 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 21 in 2016–20 vs 27 in 2021–25 (+29% — 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 Latimer County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Latimer County, Oklahoma are wildfire, ice storm, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Latimer County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Latimer County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).
Has Latimer County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Latimer County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Latimer County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Le Flore County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Haskell County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Latimer County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Latimer County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Latimer 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. Latimer County's composite score of 35 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 35% of US counties.