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Comanche County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
4th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$51Mexpected losses a year
34federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Comanche County, Oklahoma has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 4th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $51 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $421 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (435 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $23 million on 835 claims here, including $8.1 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 Comanche County

$19.7 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.
$10.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$6.7 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate83.6
$20M
TornadoHigh95.5
$11M
Cold waveHigh91.1
$7M
Strong windHigh97.4
$4M
EarthquakeLow83.7
$2M
HailModerate93.6
$2M
WildfireModerate92.9
$2M
Ice stormVery High96.2
$2M
Heat waveLow77.5
$1M
DroughtModerate73.5
$534K
Winter weatherHigh89.9
$344K
LightningModerate60.9
$291K
HurricaneVery Low45.1
$38K
LandslideLow71.9
$6K

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

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm15
Severe Ice Storm8
Fire5
Flood4
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 19, 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
Jul 15, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 3, 2011Ferguson FireFire management
Jun 24, 2011Medicine Park FireFire management
Apr 15, 2011Goodyear Plant FireFire management
Show all 34
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Aug 31, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 24, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor 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
Jul 22, 2003Ok - Big Rock Fire - 07/18/03Fire management
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Nov 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 26, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 13, 1979Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor 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 1,433 storm reports in Comanche County since 1951, with 8 deaths and 130 injuries and about $68.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 24, 1957.

65tornadoes
785hail reports, largest 4 inches
475damaging thunderstorm winds
101floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 24, 1957F4–0 / 0
Apr 10, 1979F3–100 / 3
Feb 14, 1987F2–1 / 0
May 23, 1952F2–1 / 0
May 23, 1952F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 10, 1979Tornado–$25M
May 27, 2001Thunderstorm WindLawton$11M
May 27, 2001Thunderstorm WindFt Sill Aaf$10M
Aug 23, 1993Thunderstorm WindLawton Municipal Airp$5M
May 31, 1999Thunderstorm WindIndiahoma$5M
May 16, 1982Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Comanche County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 50 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1900most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 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 Comanche County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (435 policies)
20.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$23.4 millionpaid on 835 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $8.1 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 Comanche County

$163,800median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.3%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; 52,666 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
Grady CountyLow35
Stephens CountyLow33
Caddo CountyLow42
Kiowa CountyVery Low34
Tillman CountyVery Low34
Cotton CountyVery Low35

Cities in Comanche County

Common questions about Comanche County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Comanche County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Comanche County, about $19.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $10.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Comanche County had?

Comanche County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in July 2023.

Is Comanche County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 4th 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 Comanche County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Comanche 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 Comanche County had?

NOAA records list 65 tornadoes in Comanche County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 24, 1957. The weather service has also logged 785 hail reports and 101 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Comanche County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Comanche County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 50 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.