Nowata County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Nowata County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 51st of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $8.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $888 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storm and straight-line winds). Only 18 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $357,000 on 13 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Nowata 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 29.0 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 94.0 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 64.1 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 64.2 | $1M | ||
| Ice storm | 93.7 | $896K | ||
| Heat wave | 63.9 | $452K | ||
| Drought | 67.9 | $297K | ||
| Lightning | 28.9 | $68K | ||
| Earthquake | 34.0 | $67K | ||
| Hail | 24.6 | $58K | ||
| Wildfire | 54.5 | $40K | ||
| Winter weather | 37.9 | $27K | ||
| Hurricane | 25.8 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 39.1 | $396 |
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 Nowata County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 30
Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 474 storm reports in Nowata County since 1956, with 3 deaths and 10 injuries and about $8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 18, 1979.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 18, 1979 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 1981 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 1996 | F2 | Watova | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Nowata | $4M |
| May 16, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Nowata | $750K |
| May 17, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Nowata | $500K |
| Sep 7, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Nowata Arpt | $250K |
| May 23, 1981 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 15, 1982 | 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.
Flood insurance in Nowata 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 Nowata 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; 4,362 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers County | 29 | |
| Washington County | 32 | |
| Montgomery County, KS | 13 | |
| Labette County, KS | 13 | |
| Craig County | 29 |
Common questions about Nowata County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Nowata County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Nowata County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Nowata County had?
Nowata County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm and Straight-Line Winds in October 2026.
Is Nowata County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 51st 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 Nowata County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Nowata 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 Nowata County had?
NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Nowata County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 18, 1979. The weather service has also logged 158 hail reports and 62 floods here.
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.