Ottawa County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Ottawa County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 76% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $781 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (26 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 67 homes here carry federal flood insurance (189 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $31 million on 1,161 claims here, including $13 million for floods in 2007.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Ottawa 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
- Plan for several days without power.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 78.2 | $12M | ||
| Drought | 97.3 | $3M | ||
| Ice storm | 98.7 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 73.6 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 91.4 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 85.9 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 62.1 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 61.2 | $321K | ||
| Hail | 54.4 | $210K | ||
| Lightning | 52.9 | $173K | ||
| Winter weather | 69.3 | $84K | ||
| Wildfire | 64.9 | $80K | ||
| Hurricane | 34.0 | $13K | ||
| Landslide | 76.6 | $7K |
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 Ottawa County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 32
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 626 storm reports in Ottawa County since 1956, with 9 deaths and 234 injuries and about $47.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on May 10, 2008 near North Miami.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2008 | EF4 | North Miami | 150 / 6 |
| Apr 3, 1956 | F4 | – | 46 / 0 |
| Apr 7, 1980 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 1973 | F3 | – | 14 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 1973 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2007 | Flood | Commerce | $20M |
| May 10, 2008 | Tornado | North Miami | $15M |
| Apr 27, 2014 | Tornado | Commerce | $3M |
| Apr 7, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 4, 2003 | Hail | Miami | $1M |
| May 20, 2013 | Tornado | Ottawa | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 13, 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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; 13,701 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Newton County, MO | 27 | |
| Delaware County | 31 | |
| McDonald County, MO | 24 | |
| Cherokee County, KS | 26 | |
| Craig County | 29 |
Common questions about Ottawa County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Ottawa County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ottawa County, about $12 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $2.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Ottawa County had?
Ottawa County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 26 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in April 2024.
Is Ottawa County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st 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 Ottawa County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 67 homes in Ottawa 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 Ottawa County had?
NOAA records list 46 tornadoes in Ottawa County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on May 10, 2008 near North Miami. The weather service has also logged 233 hail reports and 132 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.