Jefferson County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Jefferson County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 79% of US counties. It ranks 72nd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $902 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 2 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 Jefferson County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 91.7 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 14.2 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 54.3 | $918K | ||
| Strong wind | 67.7 | $581K | ||
| Heat wave | 49.9 | $236K | ||
| Wildfire | 78.2 | $218K | ||
| Cold wave | 24.0 | $195K | ||
| Hail | 40.6 | $117K | ||
| Ice storm | 62.0 | $94K | ||
| Earthquake | 34.2 | $67K | ||
| Lightning | 6.9 | $14K | ||
| Hurricane | 32.7 | $11K | ||
| Winter weather | 18.5 | $10K | ||
| Landslide | 21.4 | $86 |
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 Jefferson 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 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 537 storm reports in Jefferson County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $15.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 10, 1979.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 1979 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 13, 1990 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 1974 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2003 | F2 | Cornish | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1976 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 1993 | Hail | Nr Waurika | $5M |
| Mar 29, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waurika | $5M |
| Mar 13, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 29, 1993 | Hail | Waurika | $500K |
| Jun 30, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hastings | $500K |
| Apr 23, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waurika | $400K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 8, 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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Jefferson County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 55 mph about 63 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 9, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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; 2,734 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Carter County | 31 | |
| Stephens County | 33 | |
| Montague County, TX | 20 | |
| Clay County, TX | 19 | |
| Love County | 24 | |
| Cotton County | 35 |
Common questions about Jefferson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Jefferson County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Jefferson County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Jefferson County had?
Jefferson County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in March 2025.
Is Jefferson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 72nd 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 Jefferson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County had?
NOAA records list 42 tornadoes in Jefferson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 10, 1979. The weather service has also logged 302 hail reports and 25 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Jefferson County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Jefferson County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 55 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.