Washington County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Washington County has experienced 33 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Rattlesnake Fire in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Washington County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, tornado, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 16% 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. Washington County has been designated in 33 declarations since 1973, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (10), severe ice storm (9), fire (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fire | Rattlesnake Fire |
| 2024 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2023 | Fire | Gap Road Fire, Oklahoma Fmag |
| 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 |
| 2016 | Fire | Dld Fire Complex |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 33 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 78.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 74.2 | 14 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 54.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 91.1 | 38 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 92.7 | 5 | 0 | $15.0M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 28.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 51.1 | 44 | 0 | $215K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 52.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 71.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 95.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 79.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 52.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 66.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 53.8 | 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
Washington County ranks in the 59th 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 | 59th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 53rd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 91st | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 65th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 24th | 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 | 88th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 84th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 46.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 101 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 55 in 2016–20 vs 46 in 2021–25 (-16% — 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 Washington County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Washington County, Oklahoma are ice storm, tornado, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Washington County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Washington County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Washington County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Washington County include Rattlesnake Fire (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Washington 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 Chautauqua County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Washington County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Washington County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Washington 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. Washington County's composite score of 76 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 76% of US counties.