Home › Oklahoma › Le Flore County

Le Flore County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
9th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$32Mexpected losses a year
30federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$15.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate84.3
$16M
TornadoModerate88.2
$4M
WildfireModerate96.1
$3M
Heat waveModerate92.5
$3M
DroughtHigh95.4
$2M
Ice stormVery High96.9
$1M
Cold waveLow56.9
$805K
Strong windModerate74.3
$713K
EarthquakeLow67.2
$446K
LightningModerate77.4
$419K
HailLow65.0
$292K
Winter weatherModerate75.7
$112K
HurricaneVery Low55.9
$86K
LandslideLow69.3
$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

Severe Storm12
Severe Ice Storm7
Flood4
Tornado4
Fire2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 1, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2019FloodingEmergency
Jul 25, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 20, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 27, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 30
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
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 4, 1999Ok, Tornadoes 5/3/99Major disaster
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1977Urban FireEmergency
Apr 1, 1976Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 14, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

78tornadoes
551hail reports, largest 3 inches
473damaging thunderstorm winds
157floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 26, 1976F5–64 / 2
May 5, 1961F4–58 / 16
Mar 26, 1976F4–4 / 1
Apr 7, 1980F3–9 / 0
Nov 22, 1983F3–6 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 21, 1999HailPoteau$3M
Mar 26, 1976Tornado–$3M
Apr 7, 1980Tornado–$3M
Nov 22, 1983Tornado–$3M
Mar 26, 2000TornadoHodgen$1M
Mar 11, 2006TornadoShady 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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 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 Le Flore County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (67 policies)
5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 43 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $561,016 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 Le Flore County

$135,700median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.7%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; 21,249 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
Sebastian County, ARModerate19
Sequoyah CountyLow29
McCurtain CountyLow20
Polk County, ARLow22
Haskell CountyVery Low32
Pushmataha CountyVery Low27
Scott County, ARVery Low21
Latimer CountyVery Low28

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.