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Choctaw County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
44th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$9Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Choctaw County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 50% of US counties. It ranks 44th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, drought and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $9.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $652 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 11 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 Choctaw County

Tornado

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 42 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.8 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoModerate80.6
$2M
DroughtHigh96.9
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low26.8
$2M
Heat waveModerate85.2
$1M
Ice stormHigh89.8
$520K
Cold waveLow43.7
$429K
HailLow66.1
$270K
Strong windLow40.2
$237K
EarthquakeVery Low45.8
$126K
WildfireLow65.1
$69K
LightningLow25.8
$52K
Winter weatherLow43.5
$30K
HurricaneVery Low43.7
$23K
LandslideVery Low21.9
$81

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Severe Ice Storm6
Flood2
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
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 20
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
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 14, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 1968Heavy Rains & 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 429 storm reports in Choctaw County since 1954, with 1 death and 43 injuries and about $9.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 2, 1982.

31tornadoes
199hail reports, largest 3 inches
163damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1982F5–25 / 0
May 4, 1960F4–0 / 0
May 4, 1960F4–3 / 0
May 9, 2016EF3Boswell Ammons Arpt2 / 0
Apr 30, 1954F3–12 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 9, 2016TornadoBoswell Ammons Arpt$3M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
Nov 4, 2022TornadoOrd$900K
Jun 14, 2008Thunderstorm WindFt Towson$480K
May 28, 2001Thunderstorm WindHugo$325K
Apr 30, 1954Tornado–$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 Choctaw County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1918, with top winds near 45 mph about 54 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph54 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 Choctaw County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (11 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$236,494paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $160,459 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 Choctaw County

$126,500median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.8%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; 7,117 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
Lamar County, TXLow22
Bryan CountyLow23
McCurtain CountyLow20
Atoka CountyVery Low26
Red River County, TXLow24
Pushmataha CountyVery Low27

Common questions about Choctaw County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Choctaw County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Choctaw County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $2.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Choctaw County had?

Choctaw County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in July 2023.

Is Choctaw County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 44th 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 Choctaw County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Choctaw 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 Choctaw County had?

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Choctaw County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 2, 1982. The weather service has also logged 199 hail reports and 32 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Choctaw County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Choctaw County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1918, with winds near 45 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.