Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 88.2 | $36M | ||
| Cold wave | 97.6 | $20M | ||
| Tornado | 96.3 | $17M | ||
| Heat wave | 97.3 | $12M | ||
| Hail | 98.8 | $11M | ||
| Ice storm | 99.6 | $6M | ||
| Strong wind | 96.3 | $4M | ||
| Earthquake | 86.3 | $3M | ||
| Winter weather | 95.6 | $836K | ||
| Drought | 74.9 | $768K | ||
| Wildfire | 85.0 | $759K | ||
| Lightning | 74.4 | $642K | ||
| Hurricane | 36.7 | $26K | ||
| Landslide | 58.0 | $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
Most recent
Show all 42
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2013 | EF5 | Moore | 207 / 24 |
| May 3, 1999 | F5 | Moore | 293 / 11 |
| May 10, 2010 | EF4 | Norman | 32 / 1 |
| Sep 14, 1957 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 19, 1973 | F3 | – | 28 / 3 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2013 | Tornado | Moore | $2B |
| May 3, 1999 | Tornado | Moore | $450M |
| May 8, 2003 | Tornado | Moore | $210M |
| Mar 25, 2015 | Tornado | Moore | $50M |
| Feb 26, 2023 | Tornado | Norman | $50M |
| Nov 5, 2008 | Hail | Norman | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 60 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 10, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma County | 49 | |
| Canadian County | 38 | |
| Pottawatomie County | 42 | |
| McClain County | 42 |
Cities in Cleveland County
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.