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McIntosh County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
32nd of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$14Mexpected losses a year
29federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

McIntosh County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $739 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 23 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in McIntosh County

$5 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.1 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 26 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow59.8
$5M
TornadoModerate79.5
$2M
Heat waveModerate90.5
$2M
DroughtHigh93.2
$1M
WildfireModerate90.7
$848K
Ice stormHigh93.0
$695K
HailModerate85.3
$680K
Cold waveLow54.5
$622K
LightningHigh84.2
$498K
Strong windModerate52.0
$325K
EarthquakeVery Low51.7
$167K
Winter weatherModerate65.4
$61K
HurricaneVery Low43.2
$22K
LandslideLow64.1
$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 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 McIntosh County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Severe Ice Storm6
Fire5
Hurricane1
Flood1
Tornado1

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
May 20, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 27, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 24, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 29
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jan 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Jan 9, 2006Henryetta FireFire management
Jan 8, 2006Mcnally Flats FireFire management
Jan 3, 2006Eufaula FireFire management
Dec 2, 2005Texanna Road FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster

Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 683 storm reports in McIntosh County since 1954, with 6 deaths and 18 injuries and about $9.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 1, 1999 near Checotah.

61tornadoes
321hail reports, largest 5.5 inches
244damaging thunderstorm winds
54floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 1, 1999F3Checotah0 / 0
Mar 26, 1961F3–1 / 0
May 5, 1960F2–6 / 2
Mar 8, 1999F2Pierce0 / 0
May 26, 1973F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 1999TornadoChecotah$2M
Aug 9, 2008Thunderstorm WindEufaula$1M
Mar 8, 1999TornadoPierce$910K
Jun 1, 1999TornadoChecotah$700K
Apr 3, 2014HailChecotah$500K
May 5, 1960Tornado–$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 1902, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of McIntosh County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with top winds near 40 mph about 63 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 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 McIntosh County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (23 policies)
8.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$104,937paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $48,273 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 McIntosh County

$146,200median 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
33%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; 11,895 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
Muskogee CountyModerate32
Pittsburg CountyLow31
Okmulgee CountyLow38
Hughes CountyVery Low25
Haskell CountyVery Low32
Okfuskee CountyVery Low38

Common questions about McIntosh County

What is the biggest natural hazard in McIntosh County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in McIntosh County, about $5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has McIntosh County had?

McIntosh County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in July 2023.

Is McIntosh County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd 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 McIntosh County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in McIntosh 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 McIntosh County had?

NOAA records list 61 tornadoes in McIntosh County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 1, 1999 near Checotah. The weather service has also logged 321 hail reports and 54 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit McIntosh County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of McIntosh County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), 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.