Major County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Major County has experienced 33 federally declared disasters since 1975, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Major County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, hail, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 100% 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. Major County has been designated in 33 declarations since 1975, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (18), severe ice storm (8), biological (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 |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2016 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 33 total declarations since 1975.
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 | 66.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 14.3 | 5 | 0 | $10K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 27.5 | 262 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 45.8 | 48 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 41.1 | 11 | 2 | $102K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 22.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 92.2 | 46 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 31.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 28.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 92.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 76.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 6.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 85.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 58 | 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
Major County ranks in the 36th 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 | 36th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 19th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 87th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 47th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 25th | 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 | 86th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 85th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 108 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 36 in 2016–20 vs 72 in 2021–25 (+100% — 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 Major County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Major County, Oklahoma are ice storm, hail, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Major County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Major County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (18 declarations).
Has Major County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Major County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2023.
How does Major County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Kingfisher County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Dewey County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Major County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Major County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Major 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. Major County's composite score of 34 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 34% of US counties.