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Grady County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
22nd of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$34Mexpected losses a year
35federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Grady County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 76% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $34 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $623 per resident. Since 1983 it has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (27 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2025 (Norge Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (76 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.7 million on 229 claims here, including $1.7 million for floods in 2007.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Grady County

$10 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.
$9.6 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoHigh93.8
$10M
Inland floodingLow62.7
$10M
Cold waveModerate86.4
$5M
HailModerate93.4
$2M
Heat waveModerate85.3
$2M
WildfireModerate91.5
$2M
Ice stormHigh93.9
$1M
DroughtModerate75.1
$681K
EarthquakeLow66.4
$636K
Strong windLow23.9
$214K
Winter weatherModerate77.6
$179K
LightningLow27.8
$97K
HurricaneVery Low32.0
$16K
LandslideVery Low59.2
$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 Grady County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Severe Ice Storm11
Flood4
Fire3
Tornado2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 15, 2025Norge FireFire management
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
Jul 15, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2015Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 35
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009WildfiresMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Aug 24, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jan 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
Nov 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 1999Ok, Tornadoes 5/3/99Major disaster
Jun 26, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 26, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,235 storm reports in Grady County since 1951, with 16 deaths and 135 injuries and about $133 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on May 3, 1999 near Amber.

96tornadoes
653hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
441damaging thunderstorm winds
41floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 3, 1999F5Amber39 / 12
May 24, 2011EF4Norge48 / 1
Mar 13, 1953F3–8 / 1
Apr 20, 1974F3–0 / 0
Apr 28, 1960F3–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 3, 1999TornadoAmber$90M
Apr 30, 1970Tornado–$25M
Apr 8, 1965Tornado–$3M
Apr 30, 1970Tornado–$3M
Apr 20, 1974Tornado–$3M
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$3M

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.

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 Grady County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 50 mph about 52 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph52 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 Grady County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (76 policies)
5.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.7 millionpaid on 229 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $1.7 million 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 Grady County

$205,800median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.2%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; 23,528 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
Canadian CountyModerate38
Comanche CountyModerate34
Stephens CountyLow33
McClain CountyLow42
Caddo CountyLow42
Garvin CountyLow31

Common questions about Grady County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grady County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Grady County, about $10 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $9.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Grady County had?

Grady County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1983, including 27 major disasters. The most recent was Norge Fire in March 2025.

Is Grady County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 22nd 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 Grady County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Grady 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 Grady County had?

NOAA records list 96 tornadoes in Grady County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on May 3, 1999 near Amber. The weather service has also logged 653 hail reports and 41 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Grady County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Grady County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 50 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.