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Major County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
57th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$11Mexpected losses a year
31federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Major County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 57th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, hail and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,364 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (25 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 10 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $257,000 on 18 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Major County

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Hail

Moderate
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.7 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate76.2
$3M
HailModerate92.2
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low14.3
$2M
DroughtModerate85.9
$1M
Ice stormHigh92.6
$1M
TornadoLow41.1
$872K
Strong windLow31.8
$298K
Heat waveLow45.8
$292K
WildfireLow66.1
$124K
EarthquakeVery Low27.5
$55K
Winter weatherLow28.8
$27K
LightningVery Low6.7
$21K
HurricaneVery Low22.6
$7K
LandslideVery Low58.0
$2K

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 relatively moderate 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 Major County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm18
Severe Ice Storm8
Flood2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Dec 21, 2020Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 10, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2015Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2013Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Show all 31
Jun 6, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 26, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 24, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jan 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1975Severe Storms, Flooding & TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 26, 1974Severe 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 601 storm reports in Major County since 1951, with 4 deaths and 18 injuries and about $5.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 2, 1979.

54tornadoes
327hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
196damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 2, 1979F4–15 / 1
May 24, 2011EF3Dane0 / 1
Oct 31, 1984F3–0 / 0
Apr 26, 1970F3–0 / 0
Mar 5, 2026EF2Dane0 / 2

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 2, 1979Tornado–$3M
Sep 12, 2008Flash FloodFairview$400K
Jun 20, 1951Tornado–$250K
Apr 8, 1956Tornado–$250K
May 2, 1979Tornado–$250K
Oct 31, 1984Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Major County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 40 mph about 63 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1900most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical 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 Major County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$256,605paid on 18 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $237,099 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 Major County

$149,600median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.4%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; 3,716 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
Garfield CountyModerate23
Woodward CountyVery Low29
Kingfisher CountyLow33
Blaine CountyVery Low31
Woods CountyVery Low23
Alfalfa CountyVery Low28
Dewey CountyVery Low33

Common questions about Major County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Major County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Major County, about $2.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Major County had?

Major County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 25 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in July 2023.

Is Major County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 57th 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 Major County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Major 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 Major County had?

NOAA records list 54 tornadoes in Major County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 2, 1979. The weather service has also logged 327 hail reports and 19 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Major County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Major County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, 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.