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Garfield County, Oklahoma

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
12th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$43Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

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

$15.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$10.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$7.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh97.4
$15M
Inland floodingLow67.0
$11M
TornadoHigh92.2
$8M
HailModerate93.2
$2M
Heat waveModerate86.4
$2M
Ice stormVery High96.5
$2M
DroughtModerate85.5
$1M
Strong windModerate76.8
$1M
EarthquakeVery Low58.0
$377K
Winter weatherModerate74.5
$148K
LightningLow34.6
$121K
WildfireVery Low53.6
$53K
HurricaneVery Low28.9
$12K
LandslideVery Low41.5
$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

Severe Storm10
Severe Ice Storm8
Flood2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Dec 21, 2020Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 1, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2015Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2013Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jan 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 8, 1991Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 13, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster

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.

80tornadoes
624hail reports, largest 8 inches
482damaging thunderstorm winds
48floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 26, 1991F4–0 / 0
May 2, 1979F4–10 / 0
Apr 23, 2026EF4Vance AFB Enid1 / 0
Apr 8, 1956F3–4 / 0
May 2, 1979F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 17, 1994Thunderstorm WindLahoma$5M
Apr 8, 1956Tornado–$3M
Apr 26, 1991Tornado–$3M
Jun 1, 2007Thunderstorm WindEnid$2M
Apr 21, 1999TornadoCarrier$2M
Jul 19, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1900most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (99 policies)
11.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$422,372paid on 81 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $93,518 paid

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

$160,100median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.2%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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 countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Oklahoma CountyHighInland flooding
Tulsa CountyHighInland flooding
Cleveland CountyModerateInland flooding
Canadian CountyModerateInland flooding
Comanche CountyModerateInland flooding
Rogers CountyLowInland flooding
Payne CountyModerateCold wave
Wagoner CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Logan CountyLow45
Kay CountyLow34
Kingfisher CountyLow33
Noble CountyLow27
Major CountyVery Low31
Alfalfa CountyVery Low28
Grant CountyVery Low30

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.