Sequoyah County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Sequoyah County has experienced 31 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Sequoyah County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, ice storm, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 30% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (82nd 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. Sequoyah County has been designated in 31 declarations since 1972, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (15), severe ice storm (7), flood (5).
| 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 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 31 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 Moderate | 96.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 73.6 | 27 | 0 | $85K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 67 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 95.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 86 | 17 | 0 | $555K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 41.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 56.5 | 32 | 0 | $265K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 77.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 75.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 95.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 64.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 88.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 80.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 50.1 | 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
Sequoyah County ranks in the 82nd 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 | 82nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 89th | High |
| Household characteristics | 82nd | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 77th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 44th | 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 | 96th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 93rd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 80.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 76 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 33 in 2016–20 vs 43 in 2021–25 (+30% — 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 Sequoyah County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma are wildfire, ice storm, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Sequoyah County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Sequoyah County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (15 declarations).
Has Sequoyah County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Sequoyah County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2021.
How does Sequoyah 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 Haskell County, OK has the lowest (Very Low). Sequoyah County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Sequoyah County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Sequoyah 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. Sequoyah County's composite score of 79 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 79% of US counties.