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Cleveland County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
3rd of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$112Mexpected losses a year
42federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: markn3tel, CC BY 2.0

Cleveland County, Oklahoma has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 91% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $112 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $379 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (29 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storm and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (609 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.2 million on 400 claims here, including $2.3 million 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 Cleveland County

$35.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$19.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$17.3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate88.2
$36M
Cold waveHigh97.6
$20M
TornadoHigh96.3
$17M
Heat waveHigh97.3
$12M
HailHigh98.8
$11M
Ice stormVery High99.6
$6M
Strong windHigh96.3
$4M
EarthquakeLow86.3
$3M
Winter weatherHigh95.6
$836K
DroughtModerate74.9
$768K
WildfireLow85.0
$759K
LightningModerate74.4
$642K
HurricaneVery Low36.7
$26K
LandslideVery Low58.0
$3K

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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm15
Fire10
Severe Ice Storm10
Flood3
Tornado3
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 7, 2026Severe Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 15, 2025East Thunderbird FireFire management
Apr 24, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Dec 21, 2020Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 12, 2017Okc Fire ComplexFire management
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 42
Aug 22, 2012Freedom and Noble WildfiresMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2012Noble FireFire management
Aug 8, 2011Cedar Lane FireFire management
Aug 2, 2011Anderson Road FireFire management
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 24, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009WildfiresMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Aug 24, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
May 4, 1999Ok, Tornadoes 5/3/99Major disaster
Feb 27, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 26, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1975Severe Storms, Flooding & TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1970Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & 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 1,655 storm reports in Cleveland County since 1951, with 45 deaths and 685 injuries and about $2.8 billion in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF5 tornado on May 20, 2013 near Moore.

113tornadoes
865hail reports, largest 4.6 inches
519damaging thunderstorm winds
137floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 20, 2013EF5Moore207 / 24
May 3, 1999F5Moore293 / 11
May 10, 2010EF4Norman32 / 1
Sep 14, 1957F4–0 / 0
Nov 19, 1973F3–28 / 3

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 20, 2013TornadoMoore$2B
May 3, 1999TornadoMoore$450M
May 8, 2003TornadoMoore$210M
Mar 25, 2015TornadoMoore$50M
Feb 26, 2023TornadoNorman$50M
Nov 5, 2008HailNorman$40M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 12, 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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Cleveland County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 45 mph about 57 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph57 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 Cleveland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (609 policies)
17.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.2 millionpaid on 400 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $2.3 million 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 Cleveland County

$235,700median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
33%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.5%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; 124,442 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
Oklahoma CountyHigh49
Canadian CountyModerate38
Pottawatomie CountyModerate42
McClain CountyLow42

Common questions about Cleveland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cleveland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cleveland County, about $35.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $19.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Cleveland County had?

Cleveland County has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 29 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm and Straight-Line Winds in October 2026.

Is Cleveland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 3rd 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 Cleveland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Cleveland 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 Cleveland County had?

NOAA records list 113 tornadoes in Cleveland County since 1950. The strongest was an EF5 tornado on May 20, 2013 near Moore. The weather service has also logged 865 hail reports and 137 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Cleveland County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cleveland County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, 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.