Delaware County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Delaware County, Oklahoma has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 83% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $30 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $742 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (25 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (85 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 115 claims here, including $716,000 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 Delaware 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.
- 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 that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 86.5 | $17M | ||
| Tornado | 87.0 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 92.0 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 98.1 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 74.1 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 90.3 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 90.8 | $936K | ||
| Hail | 72.5 | $382K | ||
| Lightning | 71.5 | $320K | ||
| Earthquake | 60.5 | $282K | ||
| Drought | 64.1 | $228K | ||
| Winter weather | 80.6 | $131K | ||
| Hurricane | 44.6 | $27K | ||
| Landslide | 75.2 | $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 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 Delaware County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 31
Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 640 storm reports in Delaware County since 1954, with 1 death and 29 injuries and about $20.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 12, 2006 near Leach.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2006 | F3 | Leach | 8 / 0 |
| Apr 7, 1980 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 22, 2011 | EF3 | Dennis | 2 / 0 |
| May 9, 1959 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1974 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2006 | Tornado | Leach | $3M |
| Apr 7, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 27, 1984 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 16, 2003 | Tornado | Flint | $1M |
| May 22, 2011 | Tornado | Cleora | $1M |
| May 22, 2011 | Tornado | Dennis | $1M |
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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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; 24,396 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Benton County, AR | 23 | |
| Cherokee County | 26 | |
| Mayes County | 29 | |
| Ottawa County | 32 | |
| McDonald County, MO | 24 | |
| Adair County | 27 | |
| Craig County | 29 |
Common questions about Delaware County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Delaware County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Delaware County, about $17.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Delaware County had?
Delaware County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 25 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2024.
Is Delaware County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 10th 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 Delaware County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Delaware 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 Delaware County had?
NOAA records list 66 tornadoes in Delaware County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 12, 2006 near Leach. The weather service has also logged 261 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.