Major County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 76.2 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 92.2 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 14.3 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 85.9 | $1M | ||
| Ice storm | 92.6 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 41.1 | $872K | ||
| Strong wind | 31.8 | $298K | ||
| Heat wave | 45.8 | $292K | ||
| Wildfire | 66.1 | $124K | ||
| Earthquake | 27.5 | $55K | ||
| Winter weather | 28.8 | $27K | ||
| Lightning | 6.7 | $21K | ||
| Hurricane | 22.6 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 58.0 | $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
Most recent
Show all 31
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 1979 | F4 | – | 15 / 1 |
| May 24, 2011 | EF3 | Dane | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 31, 1984 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1970 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | EF2 | Dane | 0 / 2 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 1979 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Sep 12, 2008 | Flash Flood | Fairview | $400K |
| Jun 20, 1951 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 8, 1956 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 2, 1979 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 31, 1984 | Tornado | – | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 1900 | 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 Major 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 Major 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; 3,716 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Garfield County | 23 | |
| Woodward County | 29 | |
| Kingfisher County | 33 | |
| Blaine County | 31 | |
| Woods County | 23 | |
| Alfalfa County | 28 | |
| Dewey County | 33 |
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.