riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Harper County Disaster Risk

Harper County, Oklahoma

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

46th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#48

of 77 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

7th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 7% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 17% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 29% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Harper County

Risk Verdict

Harper County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 46th 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 Harper County, scoring in the 82th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 31th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (29th), earthquake (17th), flood (7th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Harper 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

Harper County is notably safer than the average county in Oklahoma. Its composite risk score is 9.8 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 Harper County, OK?
Harper County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 46th 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 Harper County?
Harper County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (82th percentile), tornado (31th percentile), hurricane (29th percentile), earthquake (17th percentile), flooding (7th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 82th 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 Harper County risk compare to the Oklahoma average?
Harper County's composite risk percentile is 46th, compared to the Oklahoma state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Harper County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Oklahoma.
Is Harper County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Harper County's wildfire risk is at the 82th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Harper County is at the 7th 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 Harper County a safe place to live?
Harper County's composite risk score of 46th 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 82th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Cimarron County

Oklahoma

+1.7

Relatively Low

47th percentile

Noble County

Oklahoma

-1.7

Relatively Low

44th percentile

Pawnee County

Oklahoma

+2.4

Relatively Low

48th 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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