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McCurtain County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
29th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$18Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$10 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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
$2 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 33 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate75.9
$10M
TornadoModerate76.7
$2M
DroughtHigh91.6
$1M
Strong windHigh88.0
$1M
Heat waveModerate82.8
$1M
Ice stormHigh94.0
$866K
HailModerate85.1
$718K
Cold waveLow50.7
$590K
EarthquakeLow64.7
$360K
LightningModerate66.4
$261K
WildfireLow77.6
$193K
HurricaneVery Low56.0
$80K
Winter weatherLow57.8
$51K
LandslideLow71.0
$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

Severe Storm11
Severe Ice Storm6
Flood1
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
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
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
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 14, 1972Severe Storms & 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 1,041 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.

71tornadoes
439hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
400damaging thunderstorm winds
123floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1982F5–4 / 0
Apr 2, 1982F5–0 / 0
Nov 4, 2022EF4Boss6 / 0
Apr 2, 1982F3–0 / 0
Oct 22, 1972F3–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 4, 2022TornadoBoss$35M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
Dec 12, 2015TornadoValliant$2M
Mar 10, 2026TornadoOak 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.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (37 policies)
2.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$922,603paid on 54 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $191,188 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 McCurtain County

$144,500median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.6%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; 14,013 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
Bowie County, TXLow24
Le Flore CountyModerate30
Polk County, ARLow22
Sevier County, ARLow16
Choctaw CountyLow20
Little River County, ARLow21
Red River County, TXLow24
Pushmataha CountyVery Low27

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.