Le Flore County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Le Flore County, Oklahoma has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 83% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $666 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (67 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 43 claims here, including $561,000 for floods in 2015.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Le Flore County
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 84.3 | $16M | ||
| Tornado | 88.2 | $4M | ||
| Wildfire | 96.1 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 92.5 | $3M | ||
| Drought | 95.4 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 96.9 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 56.9 | $805K | ||
| Strong wind | 74.3 | $713K | ||
| Earthquake | 67.2 | $446K | ||
| Lightning | 77.4 | $419K | ||
| Hail | 65.0 | $292K | ||
| Winter weather | 75.7 | $112K | ||
| Hurricane | 55.9 | $86K | ||
| Landslide | 69.3 | $4K |
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 Le Flore County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 30
Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,261 storm reports in Le Flore County since 1953, with 21 deaths and 167 injuries and about $20.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on March 26, 1976.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 1976 | F5 | – | 64 / 2 |
| May 5, 1961 | F4 | – | 58 / 16 |
| Mar 26, 1976 | F4 | – | 4 / 1 |
| Apr 7, 1980 | F3 | – | 9 / 0 |
| Nov 22, 1983 | F3 | – | 6 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21, 1999 | Hail | Poteau | $3M |
| Mar 26, 1976 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 7, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Nov 22, 1983 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 26, 2000 | Tornado | Hodgen | $1M |
| Mar 11, 2006 | Tornado | Shady Pt | $700K |
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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Le Flore County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 40 mph about 52 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 52 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 65 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 65 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 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 Le Flore 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 Le Flore 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; 21,249 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sebastian County, AR | 19 | |
| Sequoyah County | 29 | |
| McCurtain County | 20 | |
| Polk County, AR | 22 | |
| Haskell County | 32 | |
| Pushmataha County | 27 | |
| Scott County, AR | 21 | |
| Latimer County | 28 |
Common questions about Le Flore County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Le Flore County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Le Flore County, about $15.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Le Flore County had?
Le Flore County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.
Is Le Flore County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 9th 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 Le Flore County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Le Flore 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 Le Flore County had?
NOAA records list 78 tornadoes in Le Flore County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on March 26, 1976. The weather service has also logged 551 hail reports and 157 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Le Flore County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Le Flore County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), 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.