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Murray County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
60th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$8Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Murray County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 68% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $7.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $573 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2026 (Buck Horn Fire). Only 6 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 Murray County

$2.8 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
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$547,849 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 19 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low31.5
$3M
TornadoModerate68.6
$2M
Heat waveLow64.7
$548K
HailModerate73.7
$502K
Strong windModerate53.4
$461K
Cold waveLow35.2
$404K
WildfireLow82.4
$400K
DroughtModerate67.7
$344K
Ice stormModerate80.7
$327K
LightningLow37.7
$112K
EarthquakeVery Low37.5
$99K
LandslideModerate95.0
$98K
Winter weatherLow41.9
$37K
HurricaneVery Low28.4
$9K

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 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 Murray County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Ice Storm7
Severe Storm6
Fire5
Tornado3
Flood2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 19, 2026Buck Horn FireFire management
Apr 30, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 25, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2011Falls Creek FireFire management
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 24
Jun 19, 2009WildfiresMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
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
Sep 19, 2000Ok-Arbuckle Fire Complex-9/18/00Fire management
Jun 26, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1970Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & 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 470 storm reports in Murray County since 1953, with 3 deaths and 41 injuries and about $20.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 19, 1972.

46tornadoes
222hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
140damaging thunderstorm winds
57floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 19, 1972F4–0 / 0
Apr 27, 2024EF3Sulphur30 / 1
May 9, 2016EF3Joy0 / 0
Apr 2, 1957F2–2 / 1
May 13, 1983F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 27, 2024TornadoSulphur$10M
May 9, 2016TornadoJoy$4M
May 27, 2001Thunderstorm WindDougherty$2M
Sep 8, 2000WildfireWest Portion$800K
May 7, 1995TornadoDavis$500K
May 7, 1995TornadoNr Gene Autry$500K

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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Murray County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 50 mph about 61 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 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 Murray County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$132,447paid on 7 flood claims since 1978
1995costliest year, with $65,631 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 Murray County

$159,800median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.3%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; 6,555 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
Carter CountyLow31
Pontotoc CountyLow22
Garvin CountyLow31
Johnston CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Murray County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Murray County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Murray County, about $2.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Murray County had?

Murray County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Buck Horn Fire in March 2026.

Is Murray County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th 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 Murray County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Murray 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 Murray County had?

NOAA records list 46 tornadoes in Murray County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 19, 1972. The weather service has also logged 222 hail reports and 57 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Murray County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Murray County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 50 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.