Le Flore County, OK

FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data

Population: 48,014

Relatively Moderate Riskier than 83% of US counties
Very Low Relatively Low Relatively Moderate Relatively High Very High

Le Flore County has experienced 32 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.

Le Flore County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, wildfire, and drought, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 36% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (92nd 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. Le Flore County has been designated in 32 declarations since 1968, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (12), severe ice storm (7), tornado (4).

2002–2026
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
2019 Severe Storm Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
2019 Flood Flooding
2017 Tornado Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
2015 Severe Storm Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
2014 Severe Storm Severe Winter Storm
2013 Tornado Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding

Showing the 10 most recent of 32 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 96.1 0 0
Inland Flooding Relatively Moderate 84.3 41 1 $145K
Coastal Flooding Not Applicable 0 0
Earthquake Relatively Low 67.2
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate 92.5 0 0
Tornado Relatively Moderate 88.2 15 0 $465K
Hurricane Very Low 55.9 0 0
Hail Relatively Low 65 85 0 $725K
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate 74.3 0 0
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate 75.7 0 0
Ice Storm Very High 96.9
Cold Wave Relatively Low 56.9
Lightning Relatively Moderate 77.4 0 0
Drought Relatively High 95.4 0 0
Landslide Relatively Low 69.3 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

Le Flore County ranks in the 92nd 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 92nd High
Socioeconomic status 89th High
Household characteristics 97th High
Racial & ethnic minority status 67th Moderate
Housing type & transportation 76th High

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 94th Very High
Risk to homes 89th Very High
Buildings in direct exposure zone 79.9%

NOAA tracked 141 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 86 in 2016–20 vs 55 in 2021–25 (-36% — frequency decreasing).

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

Compare Le Flore County with other counties → All Oklahoma counties →

Frequently asked questions

What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Le Flore County?

According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Le Flore County, Oklahoma are ice storm, wildfire, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.

Has Le Flore County received federal disaster declarations?

Yes. Le Flore County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).

Has Le Flore County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?

No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Le Flore County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.

How does Le Flore County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?

Among neighboring counties, Sebastian County, AR has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Scott County, AR has the lowest (Very Low). Le Flore County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.

How is Le Flore County's composite disaster risk index calculated?

Le Flore 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. Le Flore County's composite score of 83 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 83% of US counties.

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