riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Nowata County Disaster Risk

Nowata County, Oklahoma

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

41th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#51

of 77 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

29th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 29% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 64% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 34% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 26% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Nowata County

Risk Verdict

Nowata County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 41th 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

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Nowata County, scoring in the 64th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 54th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (34th), flood (29th), hurricane (26th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Nowata County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as wildfire 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

Nowata County is notably safer than the average county in Oklahoma. Its composite risk score is 14.7 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

Is your home insured against Nowata County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Nowata County, OK?
Nowata County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 41th 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 Nowata County?
Nowata County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (64th percentile), wildfire (54th percentile), earthquake (34th percentile), flooding (29th percentile), hurricane (26th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 64th 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 Nowata County risk compare to the Oklahoma average?
Nowata County's composite risk percentile is 41th, compared to the Oklahoma state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Nowata County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Oklahoma.
Is Nowata County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Nowata County's tornado risk is at the 64th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Nowata County is at the 29th 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 Nowata County a safe place to live?
Nowata County's composite risk score of 41th 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 tornado at the 64th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Alfalfa County

Oklahoma

-0.1

Very Low

41th percentile

Okfuskee County

Oklahoma

-0.4

Very Low

40th percentile

Woodward County

Oklahoma

+0.9

Very Low

42th 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.

Explore more data for Nowata County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score