riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Dewey County Disaster Risk

Dewey County, Oklahoma

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

16th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#74

of 77 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

6th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Dewey County

Risk Verdict

Dewey County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 16th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Dewey County, scoring in the 74th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 39th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (23th), hurricane (12th), flood (6th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Dewey 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

Dewey County is notably safer than the average county in Oklahoma. Its composite risk score is 39.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Dewey County, OK?
Dewey County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 16th 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 Dewey County?
Dewey County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (74th percentile), tornado (39th percentile), earthquake (23th percentile), hurricane (12th percentile), flooding (6th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 74th 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 Dewey County risk compare to the Oklahoma average?
Dewey County's composite risk percentile is 16th, compared to the Oklahoma state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Dewey County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Oklahoma.
Is Dewey County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Dewey County's wildfire risk is at the 74th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Dewey County is at the 6th 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 Dewey County a safe place to live?
Dewey County's composite risk score of 16th 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 74th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Greer County

Oklahoma

+1.4

Very Low

17th percentile

Tillman County

Oklahoma

-2.2

Very Low

13th percentile

Jefferson County

Oklahoma

+5.2

Very Low

21th 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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