Harper County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Harper County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 48th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are drought, ice storms and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $3,121 per resident. Since 2001 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Harper 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 | 98.7 | $5M | ||
| Ice storm | 97.2 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 71.2 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 6.8 | $681K | ||
| Hail | 69.5 | $383K | ||
| Tornado | 30.6 | $372K | ||
| Wildfire | 81.9 | $349K | ||
| Strong wind | 25.4 | $170K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.0 | $95K | ||
| Lightning | 7.1 | $16K | ||
| Earthquake | 16.5 | $14K | ||
| Winter weather | 20.5 | $13K | ||
| Hurricane | 28.7 | $9K | ||
| Landslide | 7.2 | $10 |
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 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 Harper County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 17
Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 620 storm reports in Harper County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $1.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 15, 1991.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1991 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
| May 23, 2008 | EF3 | Selman | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 12, 1960 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Sep 6, 1970 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 2019 | EF2 | Laverne | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 1995 | Tornado | Selman | $500K |
| May 15, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 17, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Laverne | $250K |
| Apr 30, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | May | $50K |
| Aug 25, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Buffalo | $50K |
| May 30, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Buffalo | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 26, 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 Harper 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 Harper 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; 1,714 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 | |
| Woods County | 23 | |
| Beaver County | 26 | |
| Ellis County | 27 | |
| Clark County, KS | 15 | |
| Comanche County, KS | 20 |
Common questions about Harper County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Harper County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Harper County, about $4.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Ice storm is second at $1.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Harper County had?
Harper County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2001, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in July 2023.
Is Harper County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 48th 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 Harper County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Harper 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 Harper County had?
NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Harper County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 15, 1991. The weather service has also logged 367 hail reports and 5 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.