Pittsburg County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Pittsburg County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 73% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $504 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 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 (70 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $409,000 on 26 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Pittsburg 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 67.1 | $8M | ||
| Tornado | 81.2 | $3M | ||
| Wildfire | 95.2 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 89.7 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 95.0 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 91.9 | $1M | ||
| Ice storm | 95.7 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 60.2 | $969K | ||
| Strong wind | 56.3 | $449K | ||
| Earthquake | 58.0 | $282K | ||
| Lightning | 62.5 | $252K | ||
| Winter weather | 73.4 | $106K | ||
| Hurricane | 44.1 | $29K | ||
| Landslide | 55.2 | $1K |
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 Pittsburg County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 31
Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 937 storm reports in Pittsburg County since 1950, with 3 deaths and 44 injuries and about $13 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 11, 1992.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 1992 | F4 | – | 3 / 0 |
| May 19, 2025 | EF3 | Pittsburg | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 1966 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 1997 | F3 | Indianola | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 1970 | F2 | – | 14 / 1 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11, 1970 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 30, 2019 | Tornado | Bond | $2M |
| Apr 21, 1996 | Tornado | Mc Alester | $750K |
| May 10, 2008 | Tornado | Haywood | $500K |
| May 19, 2025 | Tornado | Pittsburg | $500K |
| Apr 27, 1966 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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 1902, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Pittsburg County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), with top winds near 40 mph about 62 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 51 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 58 mi |
| Jun 28, 1902 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 51 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 Pittsburg 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 Pittsburg 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; 22,252 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 |
|---|---|---|
| McIntosh County | 29 | |
| Atoka County | 26 | |
| Hughes County | 25 | |
| Haskell County | 32 | |
| Pushmataha County | 27 | |
| Latimer County | 28 | |
| Coal County | 25 |
Common questions about Pittsburg County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Pittsburg County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pittsburg County, about $8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Pittsburg County had?
Pittsburg County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in April 2024.
Is Pittsburg County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 27th 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 Pittsburg County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Pittsburg 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 Pittsburg County had?
NOAA records list 87 tornadoes in Pittsburg County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 11, 1992. The weather service has also logged 433 hail reports and 94 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Pittsburg County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Pittsburg County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Carla (1961), 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.