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Atoka County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
65th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$7Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Hail

High
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$935,800 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low20.5
$2M
HailHigh94.0
$2M
TornadoLow49.7
$936K
Heat waveLow64.9
$550K
Ice stormHigh87.3
$547K
WildfireLow84.4
$502K
Cold waveLow34.6
$393K
DroughtModerate68.5
$364K
Strong windLow26.2
$190K
LightningLow32.1
$89K
EarthquakeVery Low35.7
$87K
Winter weatherLow36.4
$29K
HurricaneVery Low35.8
$17K
LandslideVery Low41.6
$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

Severe Storm14
Severe Ice Storm6
Flood2
Tornado2
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 12, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Show all 26
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor 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
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
Jun 26, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 4, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 14, 1972Severe 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 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.

54tornadoes
258hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
117damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 1966F4–0 / 0
Apr 14, 2011EF3Tushka40 / 2
May 25, 2015EF3Caney1 / 0
Apr 30, 2019EF3Bentley5 / 0
Nov 22, 1982F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 22, 1982Tornado–$3M
May 26, 1982Tornado–$3M
Apr 28, 2026TornadoBoggy Depot State Park$1M
May 23, 1995Thunderstorm WindStringtown$500K
May 10, 2015Flash FloodStringtown$400K
Apr 27, 1966Tornado–$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 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 ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (1 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$94,800paid on 7 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $44,000 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 Atoka County

$157,600median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.1%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; 6,004 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
Bryan CountyLow23
Pittsburg CountyLow31
Choctaw CountyLow20
Pushmataha CountyVery Low27
Johnston CountyVery Low19
Coal CountyVery Low25

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.