Oconto County, WI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Oconto County has experienced 6 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Oconto County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, lightning, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 42% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (2nd percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Oconto County has been designated in 6 declarations since 1973, covering 4 disaster types including biological (2), flood (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1976 | Drought | Drought |
| 1973 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
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 | 38.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 68.8 | 16 | 0 | $815K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 37.8 | 6 | 0 | $135K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 13 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 28.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 60.3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 73.6 | 24 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 52.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 38.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 32.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 86.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 86.5 | 2 | 0 | $95K |
| Drought | Very Low | 13.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 63.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Oconto County ranks in the 2nd percentile (Very 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 | 2nd | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 5th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 5th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 10th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 10th | Very 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 | 15th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 15th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 73.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 52 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 33 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (-42% — 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
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Oconto County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Oconto County, Wisconsin are cold wave, lightning, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Oconto County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Oconto County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Oconto County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Oconto County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Oconto County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Brown County, WI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Menominee County, WI has the lowest (Very Low). Oconto County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Oconto County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Oconto 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. Oconto County's composite score of 62 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 62% of US counties.