Beckham County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Beckham County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 58% of US counties. It ranks 38th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $581 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2026 (1170 Road Fire). Only 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Beckham County
- 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.
- 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.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
- Plan for several days without power.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | 86.7 | $4M | ||
| Inland flooding | 31.8 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 96.0 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 90.9 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 64.5 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 90.7 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 80.3 | $870K | ||
| Hail | 79.7 | $565K | ||
| Heat wave | 59.6 | $372K | ||
| Winter weather | 89.1 | $250K | ||
| Earthquake | 42.0 | $113K | ||
| Lightning | 40.1 | $105K | ||
| Hurricane | 20.3 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 44.7 | $619 |
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 very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Beckham 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 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 829 storm reports in Beckham County since 1950, with 1 death and 18 injuries and about $39.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 5, 2007 near Erick.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 2007 | EF3 | Erick | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1962 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 1977 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 1977 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 2017 | EF2 | Carter | 10 / 1 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2017 | Tornado | Carter | $25M |
| May 5, 2007 | Tornado | Erick | $5M |
| May 12, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sayre | $4M |
| Apr 15, 2003 | Tornado | Mayfield | $1M |
| Aug 17, 1994 | Tornado | To | $500K |
| Jun 5, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elk City | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 30, 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.
Flood insurance in Beckham 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 Beckham 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; 10,137 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Custer County | 30 | |
| Washita County | 35 | |
| Kiowa County | 34 | |
| Greer County | 20 | |
| Wheeler County, TX | 12 | |
| Roger Mills County | 30 | |
| Collingsworth County, TX | 12 | |
| Harmon County | 18 |
Common questions about Beckham County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Beckham County?
Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Beckham County, about $3.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Beckham County had?
Beckham County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was 1170 Road Fire in March 2026.
Is Beckham County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 38th 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 Beckham County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Beckham 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 Beckham County had?
NOAA records list 75 tornadoes in Beckham County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 5, 2007 near Erick. The weather service has also logged 453 hail reports and 22 floods here.
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.