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Bryan County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$24Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Bryan County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 75% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $521 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 26 claims here, including $919,000 for floods in 2015.

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

Top risks in Bryan County

$8.4 million 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.
$5.4 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 21 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoHigh94.8
$8M
Inland floodingLow54.1
$5M
Heat waveModerate92.3
$3M
Cold waveModerate70.3
$2M
HailModerate90.6
$1M
Ice stormVery High95.3
$1M
DroughtModerate90.1
$1M
WildfireLow87.5
$681K
Strong windModerate60.5
$533K
LightningModerate79.2
$503K
EarthquakeLow63.9
$407K
Winter weatherLow54.6
$54K
HurricaneVery Low46.3
$37K
LandslideVery Low38.3
$419

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Severe Ice Storm7
Flood2
Fire2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 12, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2015Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Aug 31, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 23
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
Dec 28, 2005Achille Fire ComplexFire management
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
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 4, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 14, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 618 storm reports in Bryan County since 1951, with 8 deaths and 31 injuries and about $9.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1957.

40tornadoes
282hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
255damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1957F4–3 / 3
Apr 30, 2019EF3Blue11 / 2
May 23, 1981F3–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1964F3–1 / 0
Mar 12, 1971F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 23, 1981Tornado–$3M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
Apr 26, 1994TornadoNr Kemp - Yuba$500K
Apr 30, 2019TornadoBlue$300K
Apr 2, 1957Tornado–$250K
Apr 3, 1964Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 24, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bryan County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with top winds near 40 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph49 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph49 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 Bryan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (29 policies)
5.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 26 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $918,521 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 Bryan County

$174,900median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1989median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
36%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.1%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; 20,780 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
Grayson County, TXLow18
Lamar County, TXLow22
Fannin County, TXLow18
Marshall CountyLow16
Choctaw CountyLow20
Atoka CountyVery Low26
Johnston CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Bryan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bryan County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Bryan County, about $8.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $5.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Bryan County had?

Bryan County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Bryan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Bryan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Bryan 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 Bryan County had?

NOAA records list 40 tornadoes in Bryan County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1957. The weather service has also logged 282 hail reports and 33 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Bryan County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bryan 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.