Craig County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Craig County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 56% of US counties. It ranks 42nd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, ice storms and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $878 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 22 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 46 claims here, including $616,000 for floods in 2019.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Craig 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.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
- Plan for several days without power.
- 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 | 55.1 | $5M | ||
| Ice storm | 98.6 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 66.8 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 66.7 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 73.0 | $697K | ||
| Strong wind | 64.2 | $546K | ||
| Drought | 74.4 | $451K | ||
| Earthquake | 50.5 | $188K | ||
| Lightning | 42.7 | $119K | ||
| Hail | 35.3 | $98K | ||
| Wildfire | 60.4 | $57K | ||
| Winter weather | 51.6 | $45K | ||
| Hurricane | 32.3 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 50.6 | $932 |
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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Craig County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 29
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 559 storm reports in Craig County since 1951, with 1 death and 43 injuries and about $14.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on September 27, 1959.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 1959 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 7, 1980 | F3 | – | 4 / 0 |
| May 7, 1961 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 1973 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1974 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 1999 | Flash Flood | Vinita | $4M |
| Jun 8, 1974 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 7, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 10, 2008 | Tornado | Welch | $600K |
| May 7, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Big Cabin | $500K |
| Jun 3, 2010 | Lightning | Vinita | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 13, 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 Craig 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 Craig 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; 6,381 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers County | 29 | |
| Delaware County | 31 | |
| Mayes County | 29 | |
| Ottawa County | 32 | |
| Labette County, KS | 13 | |
| Cherokee County, KS | 26 | |
| Nowata County | 30 |
Common questions about Craig County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Craig County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Craig County, about $5.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Ice storm is second at $2.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Craig County had?
Craig County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in April 2024.
Is Craig County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 42nd 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 Craig County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Craig 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 Craig County had?
NOAA records list 51 tornadoes in Craig County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on September 27, 1959. The weather service has also logged 224 hail reports and 41 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.