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Adair County, Oklahoma

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
43rd of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$12Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Adair County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $630 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 13 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 25 claims here, including $502,000 for floods in 2011.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Adair County

$6.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 13 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow59.5
$6M
TornadoModerate66.2
$2M
Heat waveModerate85.4
$1M
WildfireModerate90.6
$1M
Ice stormHigh91.2
$717K
Cold waveLow39.2
$442K
Strong windLow51.4
$397K
LightningLow51.7
$172K
EarthquakeVery Low44.1
$135K
HailLow42.2
$133K
Winter weatherLow51.0
$46K
HurricaneVery Low42.3
$25K
LandslideVery Low56.1
$1K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Adair County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Severe Ice Storm6
Flood4
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Mar 18, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2022Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 1, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 27, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 27
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Feb 1, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jan 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1970Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 483 storm reports in Adair County since 1961, with 5 deaths and 4 injuries and about $4.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 4, 1999 near Stilwell.

44tornadoes
196hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
164damaging thunderstorm winds
79floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 4, 1999F3Stilwell0 / 0
Jun 11, 1970F3–1 / 0
Nov 30, 2018EF2Titanic0 / 0
Nov 4, 2024EF2Bidding Spgs0 / 0
Apr 10, 2008EF2Bunch0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 23, 1993Thunderstorm WindChristie$500K
Apr 17, 1995Tornado–$500K
Jun 21, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Apr 13, 2022TornadoStilwell$300K
Oct 28, 1991Tornado–$250K
Nov 30, 2018TornadoTitanic$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 11, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 2008, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Adair County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 40 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Adair County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (13 policies)
4.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 25 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $502,387 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Adair County

$117,800median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 8,148 housing units.

Compare in Oklahoma

All 77 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Oklahoma CountyHighInland flooding
Tulsa CountyHighInland flooding
Cleveland CountyModerateInland flooding
Canadian CountyModerateInland flooding
Comanche CountyModerateInland flooding
Rogers CountyLowInland flooding
Payne CountyModerateCold wave
Wagoner CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Benton County, ARModerate23
Washington County, ARModerate18
Crawford County, ARLow24
Cherokee CountyLow26
Delaware CountyModerate31
Sequoyah CountyLow29

Common questions about Adair County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Adair County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Adair County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Adair County had?

Adair County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in March 2025.

Is Adair County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 43rd highest of 77 in Oklahoma. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Adair County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Adair County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Adair County had?

NOAA records list 44 tornadoes in Adair County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 4, 1999 near Stilwell. The weather service has also logged 196 hail reports and 79 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Adair County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Adair County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with winds near 40 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.