Atoka County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Atoka County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $530 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Atoka County
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 20.5 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 94.0 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 49.7 | $936K | ||
| Heat wave | 64.9 | $550K | ||
| Ice storm | 87.3 | $547K | ||
| Wildfire | 84.4 | $502K | ||
| Cold wave | 34.6 | $393K | ||
| Drought | 68.5 | $364K | ||
| Strong wind | 26.2 | $190K | ||
| Lightning | 32.1 | $89K | ||
| Earthquake | 35.7 | $87K | ||
| Winter weather | 36.4 | $29K | ||
| Hurricane | 35.8 | $17K | ||
| Landslide | 41.6 | $555 |
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 Atoka County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 26
Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 464 storm reports in Atoka County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 60 injuries and about $9.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1966.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1966 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 2011 | EF3 | Tushka | 40 / 2 |
| May 25, 2015 | EF3 | Caney | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EF3 | Bentley | 5 / 0 |
| Nov 22, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 26, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 28, 2026 | Tornado | Boggy Depot State Park | $1M |
| May 23, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Stringtown | $500K |
| May 10, 2015 | Flash Flood | Stringtown | $400K |
| Apr 27, 1966 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 23, 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 1902, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Atoka County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with top winds near 40 mph about 63 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 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 Atoka County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Atoka County
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; 6,004 housing units.
Compare in Oklahoma
All 77 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma County | Inland flooding | |
| Tulsa County | Inland flooding | |
| Cleveland County | Inland flooding | |
| Canadian County | Inland flooding | |
| Comanche County | Inland flooding | |
| Rogers County | Inland flooding | |
| Payne County | Cold wave | |
| Wagoner County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Bryan County | 23 | |
| Pittsburg County | 31 | |
| Choctaw County | 20 | |
| Pushmataha County | 27 | |
| Johnston County | 19 | |
| Coal County | 25 |
Common questions about Atoka County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Atoka County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Atoka County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $1.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Atoka County had?
Atoka County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in July 2023.
Is Atoka County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 65th 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 Atoka County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Atoka County had?
NOAA records list 54 tornadoes in Atoka County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1966. The weather service has also logged 258 hail reports and 32 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Atoka County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Atoka County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), 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.