McCurtain County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
McCurtain County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
McCurtain County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, drought, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 40% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (90th 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. McCurtain County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1972, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (11), severe ice storm (6), 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 |
| 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 |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 total declarations since 1972.
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 | 77.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 75.9 | 62 | 2 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 64.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 82.8 | 68 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 76.7 | 14 | 1 | $36.4M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 56 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 85.1 | 75 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 88 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 57.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 94 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 50.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 66.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 91.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 71 | 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
McCurtain County ranks in the 90th 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 | 90th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 79th | High |
| Household characteristics | 98th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 79th | 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 | 80th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 75th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 82.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 218 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 91 in 2016–20 vs 127 in 2021–25 (+40% — 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 McCurtain County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in McCurtain County, Oklahoma are ice storm, drought, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has McCurtain County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. McCurtain County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has McCurtain County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for McCurtain County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2023.
How does McCurtain County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Sevier County, AR has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Pushmataha County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). McCurtain County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is McCurtain County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
McCurtain 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. McCurtain County's composite score of 72 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 72% of US counties.