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Pittsburg County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
27th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$22Mexpected losses a year
31federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$8 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
$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 50 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow67.1
$8M
TornadoModerate81.2
$3M
WildfireModerate95.2
$3M
Heat waveModerate89.7
$2M
DroughtHigh95.0
$2M
HailModerate91.9
$1M
Ice stormVery High95.7
$1M
Cold waveLow60.2
$969K
Strong windModerate56.3
$449K
EarthquakeVery Low58.0
$282K
LightningModerate62.5
$252K
Winter weatherModerate73.4
$106K
HurricaneVery Low44.1
$29K
LandslideVery Low55.2
$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

Severe Storm16
Severe Ice Storm6
Flood4
Tornado3
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

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
Jul 25, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 31
May 27, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Feb 1, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jan 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 14, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1970Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

87tornadoes
433hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
321damaging thunderstorm winds
94floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 11, 1992F4–3 / 0
May 19, 2025EF3Pittsburg1 / 0
Apr 27, 1966F3–0 / 0
May 26, 1997F3Indianola1 / 0
Jun 11, 1970F2–14 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 11, 1970Tornado–$3M
Apr 30, 2019TornadoBond$2M
Apr 21, 1996TornadoMc Alester$750K
May 10, 2008TornadoHaywood$500K
May 19, 2025TornadoPittsburg$500K
Apr 27, 1966Tornado–$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph51 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph51 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (70 policies)
13.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$409,094paid on 26 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $256,138 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 Pittsburg County

$156,900median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.3%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; 22,252 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
McIntosh CountyLow29
Atoka CountyVery Low26
Hughes CountyVery Low25
Haskell CountyVery Low32
Pushmataha CountyVery Low27
Latimer CountyVery Low28
Coal CountyVery Low25

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.