McCurtain County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
McCurtain County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 72% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $601 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 37 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $923,000 on 54 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in McCurtain 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 75.9 | $10M | ||
| Tornado | 76.7 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 91.6 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 88.0 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 82.8 | $1M | ||
| Ice storm | 94.0 | $866K | ||
| Hail | 85.1 | $718K | ||
| Cold wave | 50.7 | $590K | ||
| Earthquake | 64.7 | $360K | ||
| Lightning | 66.4 | $261K | ||
| Wildfire | 77.6 | $193K | ||
| Hurricane | 56.0 | $80K | ||
| Winter weather | 57.8 | $51K | ||
| Landslide | 71.0 | $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 McCurtain County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 20
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 1,041 storm reports in McCurtain County since 1953, with 6 deaths and 54 injuries and about $49.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 2, 1982.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1982 | F5 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 1982 | F5 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 4, 2022 | EF4 | Boss | 6 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 1982 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 22, 1972 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2022 | Tornado | Boss | $35M |
| Apr 2, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 2, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 2, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Dec 12, 2015 | Tornado | Valliant | $2M |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Tornado | Oak Hill | $500K |
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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of McCurtain County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 45 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 57 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 57 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 McCurtain 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 McCurtain 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; 14,013 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bowie County, TX | 24 | |
| Le Flore County | 30 | |
| Polk County, AR | 22 | |
| Sevier County, AR | 16 | |
| Choctaw County | 20 | |
| Little River County, AR | 21 | |
| Red River County, TX | 24 | |
| Pushmataha County | 27 |
Common questions about McCurtain County
What is the biggest natural hazard in McCurtain County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in McCurtain County, about $10 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2 million.
How many federal disasters has McCurtain County had?
McCurtain County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in July 2023.
Is McCurtain County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 29th 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 McCurtain County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in McCurtain 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 McCurtain County had?
NOAA records list 71 tornadoes in McCurtain County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 2, 1982. The weather service has also logged 439 hail reports and 123 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit McCurtain County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of McCurtain County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with winds near 45 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.