riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Cherokee County Disaster Risk

Cherokee County, Oklahoma

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

77th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#19

of 77 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

77th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 32% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Cherokee County

Risk Verdict

Cherokee County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 77th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Cherokee County, scoring in the 95th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 82th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (77th), earthquake (60th), hurricane (32th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Cherokee County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Cherokee County is significantly riskier than the average county in Oklahoma. Its composite risk score is 21.4 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Cherokee County, OK?
Cherokee County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 77th 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 Cherokee County?
Cherokee County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (95th percentile), tornado (82th percentile), flooding (77th percentile), earthquake (60th percentile), hurricane (32th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 95th 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 Cherokee County risk compare to the Oklahoma average?
Cherokee County's composite risk percentile is 77th, compared to the Oklahoma state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Cherokee County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Oklahoma.
Is Cherokee County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Cherokee County's wildfire risk is at the 95th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Cherokee County is at the 77th 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 Cherokee County higher risk than average?
Cherokee County's composite risk score of 77th percentile is above the Oklahoma state average of 56th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (95th percentile), along with tornado and flooding and earthquake risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Mayes County

Oklahoma

+0.7

Relatively Low

78th percentile

Washington County

Oklahoma

-0.8

Relatively Low

76th percentile

Ottawa County

Oklahoma

-0.9

Relatively Low

76th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & 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.

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