Dewey County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Dewey County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 74th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are ice storms, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,293 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2026 (Jumping Juniper Fire). No 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 Dewey County
- Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
- Plan for several days without power.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice storm | 94.6 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 86.3 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 39.1 | $769K | ||
| Inland flooding | 5.7 | $753K | ||
| Cold wave | 38.3 | $582K | ||
| Strong wind | 43.2 | $423K | ||
| Wildfire | 73.6 | $215K | ||
| Hail | 39.3 | $162K | ||
| Heat wave | 26.7 | $103K | ||
| Earthquake | 23.3 | $35K | ||
| Winter weather | 25.7 | $23K | ||
| Lightning | 1.7 | $6K | ||
| Hurricane | 11.9 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 54.5 | $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 moderate 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 Dewey County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 33
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 646 storm reports in Dewey County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $1.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 17, 2002 near Seiling.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2002 | F3 | Seiling | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 25, 1955 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1972 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 1951 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 1980 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 15, 1982 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 9, 2005 | Hail | Vici | $200K |
| Aug 24, 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rhea | $100K |
| Jun 16, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camargo | $75K |
| Apr 6, 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Vici | $50K |
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.
Flood insurance in Dewey 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 Dewey 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; 2,184 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Custer County | 30 | |
| Woodward County | 29 | |
| Blaine County | 31 | |
| Major County | 31 | |
| Ellis County | 27 | |
| Roger Mills County | 30 |
Common questions about Dewey County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Dewey County?
Ice storm has the highest expected yearly losses in Dewey County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Dewey County had?
Dewey County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Jumping Juniper Fire in March 2026.
Is Dewey County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 74th 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 Dewey County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Dewey County had?
NOAA records list 54 tornadoes in Dewey County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 17, 2002 near Seiling. The weather service has also logged 336 hail reports and 8 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.