Cimarron County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Cimarron County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are drought, cold waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $9.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $4,278 per resident. Since 2001 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). No 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 Cimarron County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 99.3 | $7M | ||
| Cold wave | 73.1 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 86.2 | $637K | ||
| Inland flooding | 2.9 | $317K | ||
| Hail | 50.9 | $176K | ||
| Wildfire | 72.5 | $139K | ||
| Tornado | 18.1 | $132K | ||
| Winter weather | 59.6 | $58K | ||
| Strong wind | 8.7 | $41K | ||
| Earthquake | 19.9 | $18K | ||
| Ice storm | 18.9 | $10K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.3 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 9.9 | $18 |
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 Cimarron County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
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 532 storm reports in Cimarron County since 1950, with 1 death and 6 injuries and about $3.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 18, 1977.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 1977 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1971 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 1961 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 18, 1977 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 1992 | F1 | – | 2 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 19, 1992 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 19, 1971 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 10, 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Felt | $150K |
| May 25, 1996 | Tornado | Felt | $100K |
| Jun 19, 2008 | Hail | Kenton | $100K |
| Jul 13, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise City | $62K |
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 Cimarron 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 Cimarron 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; 1,366 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Texas County | 19 | |
| Dallam County, TX | 9 | |
| Union County, NM | 5 | |
| Baca County, CO | 9 | |
| Sherman County, TX | 10 | |
| Morton County, KS | 6 |
Common questions about Cimarron County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Cimarron County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Cimarron County, about $6.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Cimarron County had?
Cimarron County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2001, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in July 2023.
Is Cimarron County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 47th 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 Cimarron 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 Cimarron County had?
NOAA records list 56 tornadoes in Cimarron County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 18, 1977. The weather service has also logged 286 hail reports and 16 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.