Jackson County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Jackson County, Oklahoma has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are strong wind, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $54 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,198 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 31 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 Jackson County
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong wind | 100.0 | $44M | ||
| Inland flooding | 25.1 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 69.9 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 76.9 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 85.2 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 83.7 | $993K | ||
| Cold wave | 50.1 | $874K | ||
| Ice storm | 84.0 | $511K | ||
| Earthquake | 41.9 | $156K | ||
| Wildfire | 65.9 | $116K | ||
| Winter weather | 64.8 | $98K | ||
| Lightning | 13.9 | $44K | ||
| Hurricane | 25.5 | $9K | ||
| Landslide | 25.0 | $175 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Jackson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 28
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 1,136 storm reports in Jackson County since 1951, with 4 deaths and 79 injuries and about $1 billion in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 11, 1982.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 1982 | F3 | – | 18 / 2 |
| May 11, 1982 | F3 | – | 41 / 0 |
| May 20, 1977 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1960 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 2015 | EF3 | Elmer | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Altus | $750M |
| May 11, 1982 | Tornado | – | $250M |
| Jun 5, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Altus | $6M |
| Jun 3, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Altus AFB | $5M |
| Apr 15, 2000 | Hail | Altus | $3M |
| Apr 29, 1970 | Tornado | – | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 24, 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 Jackson 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 Jackson 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; 12,072 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbarger County, TX | 15 | |
| Kiowa County | 34 | |
| Tillman County | 34 | |
| Greer County | 20 | |
| Hardeman County, TX | 14 | |
| Harmon County | 18 |
Common questions about Jackson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Jackson County?
Strong wind has the highest expected yearly losses in Jackson County, about $44.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Jackson County had?
Jackson County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2024.
Is Jackson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 5th 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 Jackson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Jackson 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 Jackson County had?
NOAA records list 83 tornadoes in Jackson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 11, 1982. The weather service has also logged 607 hail reports and 29 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.