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Sequoyah County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
16th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$24Mexpected losses a year
29federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sequoyah County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 79% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $600 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (62 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 46 claims here, including $431,000 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 Sequoyah County

$8.9 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 24 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate73.6
$9M
Heat waveModerate95.2
$4M
TornadoModerate86.0
$3M
WildfireModerate96.1
$3M
Ice stormVery High95.9
$1M
Cold waveLow64.8
$992K
Strong windModerate77.4
$696K
LightningHigh88.7
$644K
DroughtModerate80.6
$563K
EarthquakeLow67.0
$396K
HailLow56.5
$196K
Winter weatherModerate75.4
$99K
HurricaneVery Low41.5
$19K
LandslideVery Low50.1
$786

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 Sequoyah County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Severe Ice Storm7
Flood5
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 1, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2019FloodingEmergency
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 27, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 29
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor 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 10, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 18, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 14, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 712 storm reports in Sequoyah County since 1955, with 20 deaths and 62 injuries and about $10.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on January 22, 1957.

60tornadoes
302hail reports, largest 3 inches
265damaging thunderstorm winds
82floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 22, 1957F4–20 / 10
May 5, 1960F4–13 / 5
May 5, 1960F4–0 / 0
May 5, 1960F3–0 / 1
May 5, 1960F3–0 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 5, 1960Tornado–$3M
Apr 9, 2008Thunderstorm WindMuldrow$1M
Jul 3, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Mar 18, 2008Flash FloodBlackgum$300K
Jan 22, 1957Tornado–$250K
May 5, 1960Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 8, 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 2008, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Sequoyah County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 40 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph59 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 Sequoyah County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (62 policies)
7.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 46 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $430,600 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 Sequoyah County

$139,400median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.1%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; 18,367 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
Sebastian County, ARModerate19
Muskogee CountyModerate32
Crawford County, ARLow24
Le Flore CountyModerate30
Cherokee CountyLow26
Adair CountyLow27
Haskell CountyVery Low32

Common questions about Sequoyah County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sequoyah County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sequoyah County, about $8.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $3.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Sequoyah County had?

Sequoyah County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Sequoyah County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 16th 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 Sequoyah County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Sequoyah 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 Sequoyah County had?

NOAA records list 60 tornadoes in Sequoyah County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on January 22, 1957. The weather service has also logged 302 hail reports and 82 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Sequoyah County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Sequoyah County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), 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.