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Johnston County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
68th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$5Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Johnston County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 68th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $532 per resident. Since 1981 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (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 Johnston County

$1.5 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Drought

Moderate
$645,968 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 45 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low19.1
$1M
TornadoLow59.1
$1M
DroughtModerate81.4
$646K
Heat waveLow70.1
$587K
Ice stormHigh84.4
$370K
WildfireLow82.2
$328K
HailLow66.1
$305K
Cold waveLow32.1
$297K
Strong windLow32.3
$204K
EarthquakeVery Low34.9
$71K
LightningLow26.2
$60K
Winter weatherLow29.7
$19K
HurricaneVery Low30.5
$9K
LandslideVery Low47.9
$764

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Severe Ice Storm6
Flood2
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
Jul 25, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 19
Feb 1, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
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
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 4, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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 478 storm reports in Johnston County since 1951, with 4 deaths and 9 injuries and about $9.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1966.

46tornadoes
241hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
134damaging thunderstorm winds
56floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 1966F4–2 / 0
May 9, 2016EF3Connerville0 / 1
May 10, 2010EF2Coleman0 / 0
Apr 11, 2001F2Tishomingo4 / 0
May 9, 1951F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 10, 2010TornadoColeman$3M
Apr 11, 2001TornadoTishomingo$3M
Apr 22, 2020HailMilburn$1M
May 9, 2016TornadoConnerville$250K
Apr 27, 1966Tornado–$250K
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 23, 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 Johnston County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with top winds near 40 mph about 58 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 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 Johnston County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$222,970paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $222,970 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 Johnston County

$116,500median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.7%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; 4,708 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
Bryan CountyLow23
Pontotoc CountyLow22
Marshall CountyLow16
Atoka CountyVery Low26
Murray CountyVery Low24
Coal CountyVery Low25

Common questions about Johnston County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnston County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnston County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Johnston County had?

Johnston County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1981, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in April 2024.

Is Johnston County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 68th 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 Johnston County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Johnston County had?

NOAA records list 46 tornadoes in Johnston County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1966. The weather service has also logged 241 hail reports and 56 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Johnston County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Johnston 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.