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Stephens County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
31st of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$23Mexpected losses a year
33federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Stephens County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $527 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 39 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $919,000 on 91 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Stephens County

$6.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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
$6.2 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow54.2
$7M
TornadoModerate89.8
$6M
Cold waveModerate70.2
$2M
HailModerate91.5
$2M
Heat waveModerate82.9
$2M
Strong windHigh84.6
$1M
WildfireLow88.5
$981K
Ice stormHigh88.1
$693K
DroughtModerate74.7
$613K
EarthquakeLow62.6
$472K
LightningLow36.9
$127K
Winter weatherModerate63.2
$90K
HurricaneVery Low30.7
$13K
LandslideVery Low44.6
$833

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 relatively moderate 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 Stephens County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Severe Ice Storm9
Fire4
Flood3
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 18, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 2025Wildhorse FireFire management
Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Dec 21, 2020Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Show all 33
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009WildfiresMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2009Velma FireFire management
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Aug 31, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 24, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
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
Jul 9, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 26, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 13, 1979Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster

Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,041 storm reports in Stephens County since 1951, with 3 deaths and 29 injuries and about $13.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 15, 1977.

70tornadoes
598hail reports, largest 5.25 inches
297damaging thunderstorm winds
65floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 15, 1977F3–2 / 1
Nov 3, 2024EF3Comanche6 / 0
Mar 13, 1990F3–0 / 0
Mar 2, 1977F3–1 / 0
May 1, 1954F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 3, 2024TornadoComanche$5M
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$3M
Jun 24, 1994Thunderstorm WindDuncan$500K
Apr 17, 1995Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Apr 17, 1995TornadoTo$500K
May 15, 1977Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 Stephens County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with top winds near 50 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1961most recent: Carla

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1961CarlaTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 10, 1900UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 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 Stephens County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (39 policies)
6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$918,707paid on 91 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $298,183 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 Stephens County

$145,300median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.4%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; 20,323 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
Comanche CountyModerate34
Grady CountyLow35
Carter CountyLow31
Garvin CountyLow31
Cotton CountyVery Low35
Jefferson CountyVery Low28

Common questions about Stephens County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Stephens County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Stephens County, about $6.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $6.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Stephens County had?

Stephens County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in March 2025.

Is Stephens County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 31st 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 Stephens County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Stephens 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 Stephens County had?

NOAA records list 70 tornadoes in Stephens County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 15, 1977. The weather service has also logged 598 hail reports and 65 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Stephens County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Stephens County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1900, with winds near 50 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.