riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Caddo County Disaster Risk

Caddo County, Oklahoma

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

63th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#33

of 77 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

54th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 86% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 59% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Caddo County, Oklahoma

Caddo exceeds national risk average substantially

Caddo County scores 63.39 on the composite risk scale, placing it in the "Relatively Low" category but notably above typical U.S. county exposure. This elevated score reflects significant tornado, wildfire, and earthquake risks.

Above Oklahoma's average in multiple hazards

At 63.39 versus Oklahoma's 55.47 average, Caddo ranks above state baseline, making it one of Oklahoma's higher-risk counties. The county faces above-average exposure to tornadoes, wildfires, and earthquakes.

Caddo faces substantial regional risk

Caddo's 63.39 score places it between moderate-risk counties like Beckham (57.82) and the highest-risk Bryan County (74.55). Its tornado risk of 82.51 and wildfire risk of 85.59 both rank among the region's most elevated.

Tornadoes, wildfires, and earthquakes threaten Caddo

Tornado risk at 82.51 and wildfire risk at 85.59 dominate Caddo's hazard picture, requiring serious preparedness for both threats. Earthquake risk of 58.84—above state average—adds a third significant concern for Caddo residents.

Secure comprehensive multi-hazard insurance protection

Caddo residents should carry homeowner's insurance covering tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, and floods, given the county's exposure across all major hazard types. Build a reinforced safe room for tornado protection, maintain 30-50 feet of defensible space around structures for wildfire mitigation, and secure heavy furniture to walls to mitigate earthquake damage.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Caddo County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    86th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    83th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    59th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Risk Advisory: Caddo County

Risk Verdict

Natural hazard pressure in Caddo County is below the national midpoint, with a composite score at the 63th percentile. Proactive emergency planning and awareness of the specific hazards driving Caddo County's score can meaningfully reduce household risk.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Caddo County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 86th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 83th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (59th percentile), flood (54th percentile), hurricane (39th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire ranked at the 86th percentile nationally, Caddo County is in a zone where air quality can deteriorate rapidly before structures are threatened. An N95 respirator and a HEPA air purifier are practical items for Caddo County households to have on hand before fire season. The county's tornado exposure at the 83th percentile nationally complements the wildfire risk — saturating rain after burn scarring often triggers secondary flood and debris flow events. Defensible space, insurance review, and an evacuation plan are the three preparedness pillars for Caddo County households — and the insurance review is the one most often deferred by Caddo County residents and most costly to skip when a fire event actually occurs.

Regional Context

Caddo County is 7.9 composite risk points above the Oklahoma average, indicating that residents face greater natural hazard exposure than most of their in-state neighbors.

Is your household prepared for Caddo County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Caddo County, OK?
Caddo County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 63th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Caddo County?
Caddo County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (86th percentile), tornado (83th percentile), earthquake (59th percentile), flooding (54th percentile), hurricane (39th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 86th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Caddo County risk compare to the Oklahoma average?
Caddo County's composite risk percentile is 63th, compared to the Oklahoma state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Caddo County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Oklahoma.
Is Caddo County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Caddo County's wildfire risk is at the 86th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Caddo County is at the 54th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Caddo County higher risk than average?
Caddo County's composite risk score of 63th percentile is above the Oklahoma state average of 56th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (86th percentile), along with tornado and earthquake and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.