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Alfalfa County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
52nd of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$10Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Alfalfa County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,765 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 23 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $233,000 on 37 claims here.

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

Top risks in Alfalfa County

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 75 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate82.9
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low22.4
$2M
DroughtModerate90.2
$1M
Ice stormHigh94.1
$1M
TornadoLow44.7
$825K
HailLow69.4
$430K
Strong windLow37.3
$298K
Heat waveLow47.8
$267K
WildfireVery Low60.9
$71K
EarthquakeVery Low25.3
$36K
LightningVery Low9.1
$24K
Winter weatherVery Low21.1
$15K
HurricaneVery Low22.4
$6K
LandslideVery Low22.4
$118

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm16
Severe Ice Storm8
Tornado2
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Dec 21, 2020Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 1, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 25, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2015Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2013Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 28
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 24, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jan 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 672 storm reports in Alfalfa County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $7.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 2, 1956.

53tornadoes
343hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
244damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1956F3–0 / 0
Mar 5, 2026EF2Helena0 / 0
May 20, 1962F2–0 / 0
Apr 16, 1969F2–0 / 0
Apr 30, 1973F2–6 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 12, 2008Flash FloodBurlington$2M
Jun 5, 2008Thunderstorm WindCherokee$500K
Aug 25, 2006Thunderstorm WindCherokee$400K
Mar 5, 2026TornadoHelena$400K
Jun 1, 2007Heavy RainCherokee$387K
Jun 3, 2008Thunderstorm WindCherokee$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 17, 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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Alfalfa County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 40 mph about 65 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1900most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 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 Alfalfa County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (23 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$232,773paid on 37 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $149,394 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 Alfalfa County

$101,500median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
77%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.2%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; 2,466 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
Garfield CountyModerate23
Woods CountyVery Low23
Major CountyVery Low31
Harper County, KSVery Low20
Barber County, KSVery Low17
Grant CountyVery Low30

Common questions about Alfalfa County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Alfalfa County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Alfalfa County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Alfalfa County had?

Alfalfa County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Alfalfa County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 52nd 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 Alfalfa County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Alfalfa 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 Alfalfa County had?

NOAA records list 53 tornadoes in Alfalfa County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 2, 1956. The weather service has also logged 343 hail reports and 27 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Alfalfa County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Alfalfa County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, 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.