Greer County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Greer County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 73rd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are drought, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $4.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $820 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Only 4 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 Greer County
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 92.6 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 53.0 | $940K | ||
| Inland flooding | 5.9 | $590K | ||
| Strong wind | 65.6 | $584K | ||
| Cold wave | 28.1 | $259K | ||
| Hail | 51.8 | $194K | ||
| Ice storm | 73.1 | $178K | ||
| Heat wave | 40.4 | $162K | ||
| Wildfire | 68.3 | $106K | ||
| Earthquake | 26.8 | $37K | ||
| Winter weather | 40.0 | $31K | ||
| Lightning | 10.7 | $25K | ||
| Hurricane | 14.8 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 55.7 | $1K |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Greer County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 20
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 543 storm reports in Greer County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $3.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 22, 1972.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 1972 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 20, 2019 | EF2 | Reed | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 7, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 13, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mangum | $500K |
| Aug 17, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Brinkman | $500K |
| May 7, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Willow | $500K |
| May 20, 2019 | Tornado | Reed | $300K |
| May 6, 1965 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 17, 1986 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 Greer 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 Greer 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; 2,613 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 28 | |
| Beckham County | 26 | |
| Kiowa County | 34 | |
| Harmon County | 18 |
Common questions about Greer County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Greer County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Greer County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $939,793.
How many federal disasters has Greer County had?
Greer County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Greer County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 73rd 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 Greer County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Greer 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 Greer County had?
NOAA records list 46 tornadoes in Greer County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 22, 1972. The weather service has also logged 335 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.