Okmulgee County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Okmulgee County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 75% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $642 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (30 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (56 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.9 million on 111 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Okmulgee 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 that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 66.0 | $8M | ||
| Tornado | 84.7 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 90.8 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 98.4 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 75.9 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 95.1 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 91.7 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 89.8 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 61.8 | $540K | ||
| Earthquake | 60.9 | $334K | ||
| Lightning | 53.8 | $189K | ||
| Winter weather | 78.4 | $135K | ||
| Hurricane | 23.3 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 58.6 | $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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Okmulgee County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 38
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 756 storm reports in Okmulgee County since 1953, with 13 deaths and 122 injuries and about $42.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 17, 1981.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 1981 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1984 | F3 | – | 95 / 8 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | EF3 | Beggs | 2 / 2 |
| May 5, 1960 | F3 | – | 15 / 2 |
| Feb 17, 1961 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1984 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Tornado | Beggs | $3M |
| Feb 17, 1961 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 17, 1981 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 27, 2024 | Tornado | Schulter | $2M |
| Oct 4, 1998 | Hail | Okmulgee | $600K |
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 Okmulgee 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 Okmulgee 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; 16,738 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tulsa County | 38 | |
| Wagoner County | 32 | |
| Creek County | 45 | |
| Muskogee County | 32 | |
| McIntosh County | 29 | |
| Okfuskee County | 38 |
Common questions about Okmulgee County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Okmulgee County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Okmulgee County, about $7.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Okmulgee County had?
Okmulgee County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 30 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in April 2024.
Is Okmulgee County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 25th 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 Okmulgee County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Okmulgee 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 Okmulgee County had?
NOAA records list 60 tornadoes in Okmulgee County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 17, 1981. The weather service has also logged 336 hail reports and 110 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.