Nowata County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Nowata County has experienced 31 federally declared disasters since 1987, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Nowata County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, ice storm, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 73 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Nowata County has been designated in 31 declarations since 1987, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (14), severe ice storm (8), tornado (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Fire | Dld Fire Complex |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 31 total declarations since 1987.
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 | Very Low | 54.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 29 | 10 | 0 | $10K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 34 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 63.9 | 37 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 64.1 | 8 | 0 | $95K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 25.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 24.6 | 18 | 0 | $80K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 94 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 37.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 93.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 64.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 28.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 67.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 39.1 | 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
Nowata County ranks in the 65th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 65th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 60th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 69th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 73rd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 52nd | 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 | 72nd | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 71st | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 79.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 73 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 35 in 2016–20 vs 38 in 2021–25 (+9% — relatively stable).
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 Nowata County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Nowata County, Oklahoma are strong wind, ice storm, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Nowata County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Nowata County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1987, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (14 declarations).
Has Nowata County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Nowata County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1987.
How does Nowata County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Rogers County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Craig County, OK has the lowest (Relatively Low). Nowata County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Nowata County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Nowata 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. Nowata County's composite score of 41 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 41% of US counties.