Custer County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Custer County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $660 per resident. Since 1982 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 10 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $184,000 on 19 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Custer County
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | 91.3 | $7M | ||
| Inland flooding | 38.7 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 70.4 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 96.7 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 87.9 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 86.9 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 80.0 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 61.7 | $517K | ||
| Earthquake | 53.2 | $272K | ||
| Wildfire | 76.8 | $256K | ||
| Winter weather | 73.7 | $130K | ||
| Lightning | 14.3 | $41K | ||
| Hurricane | 23.9 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 58.2 | $2K |
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 high 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 Custer County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 30
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 821 storm reports in Custer County since 1950, with 4 deaths and 24 injuries and about $41.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 10, 1967.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 1967 | F4 | – | 1 / 4 |
| May 22, 1981 | F3 | – | 12 / 0 |
| May 25, 1962 | F3 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1971 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2001 | F3 | Butler | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 1981 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 6, 1994 | Tornado | Foss - | $5M |
| May 22, 1981 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 22, 1985 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 5, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Clinton | $750K |
| May 7, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Clinton | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 25, 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 Custer 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 Custer 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; 12,971 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Caddo County | 42 | |
| Beckham County | 26 | |
| Washita County | 35 | |
| Blaine County | 31 | |
| Dewey County | 33 | |
| Roger Mills County | 30 |
Common questions about Custer County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Custer County?
Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Custer County, about $6.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Custer County had?
Custer County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1982, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2024.
Is Custer County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 36th 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 Custer County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Custer 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 Custer County had?
NOAA records list 73 tornadoes in Custer County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 10, 1967. The weather service has also logged 384 hail reports and 22 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.