Ellis County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Ellis County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 69th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are drought, ice storms and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $5.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,528 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2025 (840 Road 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 Ellis County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
- Plan for several days without power.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 93.6 | $1M | ||
| Ice storm | 94.7 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 52.7 | $719K | ||
| Inland flooding | 7.0 | $670K | ||
| Tornado | 38.2 | $540K | ||
| Wildfire | 85.2 | $481K | ||
| Hail | 63.2 | $289K | ||
| Strong wind | 39.3 | $280K | ||
| Heat wave | 28.9 | $85K | ||
| Winter weather | 54.7 | $52K | ||
| Earthquake | 22.6 | $24K | ||
| Lightning | 7.5 | $16K | ||
| Hurricane | 25.0 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 37.3 | $373 |
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 Ellis County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 27
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 756 storm reports in Ellis County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $6.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1958.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 1958 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 2019 | EF3 | Catesby | 0 / 0 |
| May 18, 2025 | EF3 | Arnett | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 2012 | EF3 | Arnett | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 24, 1990 | F2 | – | 5 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 5, 2007 | Tornado | Harmon | $612K |
| May 25, 1994 | Hail | Shattuck | $500K |
| Jul 24, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Shattuck | $300K |
| Jun 15, 1955 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 21, 1958 | Tornado | – | $250K |
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 Ellis 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 Ellis 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; 2,127 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Woodward County | 29 | |
| Beaver County | 26 | |
| Dewey County | 33 | |
| Roger Mills County | 30 | |
| Hemphill County, TX | 12 | |
| Harper County | 17 | |
| Lipscomb County, TX | 9 |
Common questions about Ellis County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Ellis County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Ellis County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Ice storm is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Ellis County had?
Ellis County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was 840 Road Fire in March 2025.
Is Ellis County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 69th 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 Ellis 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 Ellis County had?
NOAA records list 82 tornadoes in Ellis County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1958. The weather service has also logged 425 hail reports and 14 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.