Home › Oklahoma › Jefferson County

Jefferson County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
72nd of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$5Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

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

$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 62 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$917,865 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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
DroughtHigh91.7
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low14.2
$1M
TornadoLow54.3
$918K
Strong windModerate67.7
$581K
Heat waveLow49.9
$236K
WildfireLow78.2
$218K
Cold waveLow24.0
$195K
HailLow40.6
$117K
Ice stormModerate62.0
$94K
EarthquakeVery Low34.2
$67K
LightningVery Low6.9
$14K
HurricaneVery Low32.7
$11K
Winter weatherVery Low18.5
$10K
LandslideVery Low21.4
$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

Severe Storm17
Severe Ice Storm6
Fire2
Tornado1
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 18, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 28
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jan 19, 2006Ryan FireFire management
Jan 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
Nov 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 26, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 13, 1979Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1975Severe Storms, Flooding & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1970Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

42tornadoes
302hail reports, largest 5 inches
165damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 10, 1979F4–0 / 0
Mar 13, 1990F3–0 / 0
Apr 20, 1974F3–0 / 0
May 8, 2003F2Cornish0 / 0
Apr 19, 1976F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 29, 1993HailNr Waurika$5M
Mar 29, 1993Thunderstorm WindWaurika$5M
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$3M
Mar 29, 1993HailWaurika$500K
Jun 30, 1994Thunderstorm WindHastings$500K
Apr 23, 2003Thunderstorm WindWaurika$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.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 9, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$80,584paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $37,623 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 Jefferson County

$82,500median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.7%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; 2,734 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
Carter CountyLow31
Stephens CountyLow33
Montague County, TXLow20
Clay County, TXVery Low19
Love CountyVery Low24
Cotton CountyVery Low35

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.