Garfield County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Garfield County, Oklahoma has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 82% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $43 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $686 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (99 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $422,000 on 81 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Garfield County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 97.4 | $15M | ||
| Inland flooding | 67.0 | $11M | ||
| Tornado | 92.2 | $8M | ||
| Hail | 93.2 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 86.4 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 96.5 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 85.5 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 76.8 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 58.0 | $377K | ||
| Winter weather | 74.5 | $148K | ||
| Lightning | 34.6 | $121K | ||
| Wildfire | 53.6 | $53K | ||
| Hurricane | 28.9 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 41.5 | $671 |
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 Garfield County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 23
Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,258 storm reports in Garfield County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 26 injuries and about $21.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 26, 1991.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1991 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 1979 | F4 | – | 10 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | EF4 | Vance AFB Enid | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1956 | F3 | – | 4 / 0 |
| May 2, 1979 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lahoma | $5M |
| Apr 8, 1956 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 26, 1991 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 1, 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Enid | $2M |
| Apr 21, 1999 | Tornado | Carrier | $2M |
| Jul 19, 1997 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1900, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Garfield County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 45 mph about 56 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Garfield 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 Garfield 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; 27,804 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Logan County | 45 | |
| Kay County | 34 | |
| Kingfisher County | 33 | |
| Noble County | 27 | |
| Major County | 31 | |
| Alfalfa County | 28 | |
| Grant County | 30 |
Cities in Garfield County
Common questions about Garfield County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Garfield County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Garfield County, about $15.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $10.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Garfield County had?
Garfield County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Garfield County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 12th 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 Garfield County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Garfield 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 Garfield County had?
NOAA records list 80 tornadoes in Garfield County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 26, 1991. The weather service has also logged 624 hail reports and 48 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Garfield County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Garfield County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 45 mph.
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.