Seminole County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Seminole County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $569 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 27 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 44 claims here, including $567,000 for floods in 2024.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Seminole 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 38.2 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 78.7 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 94.6 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 87.7 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 91.1 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 63.0 | $1M | ||
| Ice storm | 87.8 | $520K | ||
| Strong wind | 56.8 | $459K | ||
| Drought | 69.3 | $348K | ||
| Earthquake | 51.6 | $207K | ||
| Lightning | 48.8 | $155K | ||
| Winter weather | 68.6 | $85K | ||
| Hurricane | 33.9 | $13K | ||
| Landslide | 61.8 | $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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Seminole 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 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 508 storm reports in Seminole County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 63 injuries and about $17.8 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 |
| Sep 14, 1957 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 17, 1961 | F3 | – | 7 / 0 |
| Nov 17, 1958 | F3 | – | 15 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1974 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 1995 | Tornado | S Seminole | $5M |
| Feb 17, 1961 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 8, 1974 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 17, 1981 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jul 2, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Konawa | $500K |
| Aug 26, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Konawa | $500K |
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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Seminole County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 45 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1961 | Carla | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 10, 1900 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 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 Seminole 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 Seminole 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; 10,838 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pottawatomie County | 42 | |
| Pontotoc County | 22 | |
| Hughes County | 25 | |
| Okfuskee County | 38 |
Common questions about Seminole County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Seminole County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Seminole County, about $3.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Seminole County had?
Seminole County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in April 2024.
Is Seminole County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 39th 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 Seminole County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Seminole 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 Seminole County had?
NOAA records list 61 tornadoes in Seminole County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 17, 1981. The weather service has also logged 271 hail reports and 23 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Seminole County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Seminole County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 45 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.