Hughes County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 92.6 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 17.5 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 64.3 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 89.7 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 52.8 | $930K | ||
| Ice storm | 85.8 | $558K | ||
| Heat wave | 61.8 | $548K | ||
| Drought | 65.2 | $351K | ||
| Strong wind | 22.3 | $179K | ||
| Earthquake | 36.4 | $107K | ||
| Lightning | 29.3 | $93K | ||
| Winter weather | 48.8 | $54K | ||
| Hurricane | 37.9 | $23K | ||
| Landslide | 62.0 | $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
Most recent
Show all 25
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 1950 | F4 | – | 32 / 5 |
| Apr 27, 2024 | EF3 | Spaulding | 4 / 2 |
| Feb 17, 1961 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| May 1, 1954 | F2 | – | 6 / 0 |
| Sep 15, 1950 | F2 | – | 6 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 1954 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Feb 17, 1961 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 27, 2024 | Tornado | Spaulding | $2M |
| Apr 19, 2025 | Tornado | Spaulding | $400K |
| Apr 28, 1950 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 15, 1950 | Tornado | – | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 46 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 46 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburg County | 31 | |
| Pontotoc County | 22 | |
| Seminole County | 31 | |
| McIntosh County | 29 | |
| Okfuskee County | 38 | |
| Coal County | 25 |
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.