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

Coal County Disaster Risk

Coal County, Oklahoma

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

32th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#61

of 77 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

12th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 32% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Coal County, Oklahoma

Coal County ranks among America's safest

Coal County's composite risk score of 32.41 places it in the very low category, performing far better than the U.S. median for natural disaster exposure. The county enjoys one of the lowest overall risk profiles in the nation.

Oklahoma's safest county by far

Coal County ranks lowest among Oklahoma's 77 counties for natural disaster risk with a score of 32.41, dramatically below the state average of 55.47. No other Oklahoma county comes close to this level of protection from natural hazards.

Far safer than all regional peers

Coal County's score of 32.41 is substantially lower than any neighboring county, including Choctaw (49.90) and Cimarron (47.33). This represents a genuinely exceptional safety advantage within southeastern Oklahoma.

Wildfire is only significant hazard

Wildfire risk reaches 86.83 in Coal County, making it the sole natural hazard of concern in an otherwise exceptionally safe county. Tornado, flood, and earthquake risks all remain negligible at 52.51, 12.12, and 31.62 respectively.

Wildfire coverage completes basic protection

Standard homeowner's insurance with wildfire coverage is adequate for Coal County's minimal risk environment. Maintain defensible space around your property during wildfire season, but flood and earthquake insurance are not necessary precautions here.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Coal County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    87th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    53th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    32th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Coal County

Risk Verdict

Coal County's overall natural disaster score at the 32th percentile puts it well below the national median for hazard exposure. At the 32th percentile nationally, Coal County's natural hazard profile is comparatively favorable — community resilience is reinforced when individual households maintain a reviewed emergency plan.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Coal County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 87th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 53th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (32th percentile), hurricane (27th percentile), flood (12th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire ranked at the 87th percentile nationally, Coal 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 Coal County households to have on hand before fire season. Alongside wildfire, tornado at the 53th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. Defensible space, insurance review, and an evacuation plan are the three preparedness pillars for Coal County households — and the insurance review is the one most often deferred by Coal County residents and most costly to skip when a fire event actually occurs.

Regional Context

Coal County's composite risk score sits 23.1 points below the Oklahoma county average, reflecting a more favorable hazard environment than the state typical.

Is your household prepared for Coal 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 Coal County, OK?
Coal County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 32th 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 Coal County?
Coal County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (87th percentile), tornado (53th percentile), earthquake (32th percentile), hurricane (27th percentile), flooding (12th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 87th 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 Coal County risk compare to the Oklahoma average?
Coal County's composite risk percentile is 32th, compared to the Oklahoma state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Coal County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Oklahoma.
Is Coal County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Coal County's wildfire risk is at the 87th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Coal County is at the 12th 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.
Is Coal County a safe place to live?
Coal County's composite risk score of 32th percentile is below the Oklahoma state average of 56th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 87th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Blaine County

Oklahoma

-0.1

Very Low

32th percentile

Murray County

Oklahoma

+0.1

Very Low

33th percentile

Pushmataha County

Oklahoma

+0.4

Very Low

33th percentile

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.

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