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Hughes County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
58th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$10Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Hughes County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 58th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $720 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 7 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 Hughes County

Hail

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.
$1.8 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
HailModerate92.6
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low17.5
$2M
TornadoLow64.3
$2M
WildfireModerate89.7
$1M
Cold waveLow52.8
$930K
Ice stormHigh85.8
$558K
Heat waveLow61.8
$548K
DroughtModerate65.2
$351K
Strong windLow22.3
$179K
EarthquakeVery Low36.4
$107K
LightningLow29.3
$93K
Winter weatherLow48.8
$54K
HurricaneVery Low37.9
$23K
LandslideVery Low62.0
$3K

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Hughes County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Severe Ice Storm7
Flood3
Tornado2
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Apr 30, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 25
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor 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
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1983Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 424 storm reports in Hughes County since 1950, with 8 deaths and 52 injuries and about $9.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 28, 1950.

41tornadoes
219hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
150damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 28, 1950F4–32 / 5
Apr 27, 2024EF3Spaulding4 / 2
Feb 17, 1961F3–2 / 0
May 1, 1954F2–6 / 0
Sep 15, 1950F2–6 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 1954Tornado–$3M
Feb 17, 1961Tornado–$3M
Apr 27, 2024TornadoSpaulding$2M
Apr 19, 2025TornadoSpaulding$400K
Apr 28, 1950Tornado–$250K
Sep 15, 1950Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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 1902, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hughes County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with top winds near 40 mph about 46 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 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 Hughes County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (7 policies)
5.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9,945paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $6,107 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 Hughes County

$102,000median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.7%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; 5,782 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
Pittsburg CountyLow31
Pontotoc CountyLow22
Seminole CountyLow31
McIntosh CountyLow29
Okfuskee CountyVery Low38
Coal CountyVery Low25

Common questions about Hughes County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hughes County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Hughes County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Hughes County had?

Hughes County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in April 2024.

Is Hughes County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 58th 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 Hughes County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Hughes 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 Hughes County had?

NOAA records list 41 tornadoes in Hughes County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 28, 1950. The weather service has also logged 219 hail reports and 9 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hughes County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hughes County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with winds near 40 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.