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Coal County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
61st of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$6Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Coal County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 68% of US counties. It ranks 61st of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,131 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 4 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 Coal County

Hail

High
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$875,504 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$770,744 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh96.9
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low12.1
$876K
TornadoLow52.5
$771K
DroughtModerate83.2
$640K
WildfireLow86.8
$484K
Cold waveLow31.7
$261K
Ice stormModerate79.3
$217K
Heat waveLow49.0
$203K
Strong windVery Low16.4
$80K
EarthquakeVery Low31.6
$51K
LightningVery Low18.6
$36K
Winter weatherVery Low23.4
$12K
HurricaneVery Low26.7
$6K
LandslideVery Low56.0
$1K

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 Coal County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm12
Severe Ice Storm6
Tornado3
Flood2
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Apr 30, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 12, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 25, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 25
Feb 15, 2009Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
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
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
Nov 4, 1981Severe 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 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 270 storm reports in Coal County since 1950, with 2 deaths and 8 injuries and about $7.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 11, 1992.

31tornadoes
150hail reports, largest 4 inches
68damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 11, 1992F3–1 / 0
Apr 11, 2001F2Coalgate1 / 1
Apr 11, 2001F2Tupelo0 / 0
May 11, 1992F2–0 / 0
Apr 28, 1950F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 26, 1994HailBromide$5M
Apr 26, 1994HailBromide$500K
Apr 11, 2001TornadoTupelo$400K
May 11, 1992Tornado–$250K
May 11, 1992Tornado–$250K
Aug 3, 2003Thunderstorm WindLehigh$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 19, 2025. 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 Coal County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with top winds near 40 mph about 57 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 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 Coal County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$26,697paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
1986costliest year, with $18,229 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 Coal County

$115,700median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.9%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; 2,585 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
Pittsburg CountyLow31
Pontotoc CountyLow22
Atoka CountyVery Low26
Hughes CountyVery Low25
Johnston CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Coal County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Coal County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Coal County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $875,504.

How many federal disasters has Coal County had?

Coal County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in April 2024.

Is Coal County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 61st 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 Coal County?

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

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Coal County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 11, 1992. The weather service has also logged 150 hail reports and 19 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Coal County?

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