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Osage County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
17th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$28Mexpected losses a year
41federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Osage County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 78% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $28 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $604 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (30 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storm and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (66 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 96 claims here, including $406,000 for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Osage County

$11.6 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
$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate75.1
$12M
TornadoModerate88.7
$5M
Cold waveModerate81.6
$3M
WildfireModerate94.8
$2M
Heat waveModerate90.9
$2M
Ice stormVery High96.4
$1M
DroughtModerate89.1
$1M
Strong windModerate61.4
$547K
LightningLow53.7
$192K
EarthquakeVery Low44.8
$146K
Winter weatherModerate74.8
$118K
HailVery Low29.6
$84K
LandslideModerate87.8
$32K
HurricaneVery Low28.2
$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 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 Osage County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm16
Severe Ice Storm8
Flood7
Fire5
Tornado4
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 7, 2026Severe Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2026Rattlesnake FireFire management
Oct 30, 2024North Road 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 12, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 1, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2019FloodingEmergency
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 41
Jun 6, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2011Osage County Fire ComplexFire management
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 24, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jan 19, 2006Sperry FireFire management
Jan 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2003Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 26, 1995Tornadoes, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 1991Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 31, 1984Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 3, 1984Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 26, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1974Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1971Heavy Rains & FloodsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,499 storm reports in Osage County since 1955, with 4 deaths and 104 injuries and about $48.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on May 6, 2024 near Osage.

118tornadoes
672hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
630damaging thunderstorm winds
79floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 6, 2024EF4Osage33 / 2
Apr 29, 1984F4–20 / 1
Jun 8, 1974F4–15 / 1
Apr 26, 1991F4–19 / 0
Apr 26, 1991F4–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 29, 1984Tornado–$25M
May 6, 2024TornadoOsage$10M
Apr 26, 1991Tornado–$3M
Apr 26, 1991Tornado–$3M
May 20, 2019Flash FloodHominy$500K
Jun 8, 1974Tornado–$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 1900, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Osage County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 40 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1900most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical 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 Osage County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (66 policies)
8.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 96 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $405,578 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 Osage County

$182,100median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14%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; 19,886 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
Tulsa CountyHigh38
Washington CountyLow32
Kay CountyLow34
Cowley County, KSLow25
Pawnee CountyLow34
Noble CountyLow27
Chautauqua County, KSVery Low14

Cities in Osage County

Common questions about Osage County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Osage County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Osage County, about $11.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Osage County had?

Osage County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 30 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm and Straight-Line Winds in October 2026.

Is Osage County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 17th 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 Osage County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Osage 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 Osage County had?

NOAA records list 118 tornadoes in Osage County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on May 6, 2024 near Osage. The weather service has also logged 672 hail reports and 79 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Osage County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Osage County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, 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.