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Washington County, Oklahoma

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

Relatively Low overall risk
20th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$32Mexpected losses a year
32federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Washington County, Oklahoma has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 76% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $607 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storm and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (181 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.5 million on 372 claims here, including $2.6 million for floods in 2007.

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

Top risks in Washington County

$13.9 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.
$8.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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 floodingModerate74.2
$14M
TornadoHigh92.7
$8M
Cold waveModerate79.3
$3M
Heat waveModerate91.1
$3M
Ice stormVery High95.1
$2M
Strong windModerate52.8
$537K
DroughtModerate66.8
$379K
WildfireLow78.4
$315K
EarthquakeVery Low54.5
$311K
HailLow51.1
$245K
LightningLow52.6
$229K
Winter weatherModerate71.5
$123K
HurricaneVery Low28.8
$12K
LandslideVery Low53.8
$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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Washington County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Severe Ice Storm9
Fire5
Flood3
Tornado3
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 7, 2026Severe Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2026Rattlesnake FireFire management
Apr 30, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 31, 2023Gap Road Fire, Oklahoma FmagFire management
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 1, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 11, 2015Dld Fire ComplexFire management
May 13, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 32
Mar 5, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Dec 18, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor 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
May 10, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jan 5, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter and Ice StormEmergency
Feb 27, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 1991Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 3, 1984Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 26, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1974Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 632 storm reports in Washington County since 1953, with 1 death and 74 injuries and about $51.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 18, 1979.

35tornadoes
286hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
264damaging thunderstorm winds
46floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 18, 1979F3–0 / 0
May 26, 1973F3–3 / 0
Apr 26, 1991F2–10 / 1
Mar 15, 1982F2–57 / 0
May 6, 2024EF2Bartlesville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 15, 1982Tornado–$25M
May 6, 2024TornadoBartlesville$15M
May 8, 2000HailBartlesville$2M
Apr 19, 2003TornadoDewey$2M
Sep 1, 2014Thunderstorm WindBartlesville$2M
May 20, 2001HailBartlesville$1M

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.

Flood insurance in Washington County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (181 policies)
15.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8.5 millionpaid on 372 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $2.6 million 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 Washington County

$173,200median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6%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; 23,741 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
Tulsa CountyHigh38
Rogers CountyLow29
Osage CountyLow41
Montgomery County, KSLow13
Nowata CountyVery Low30
Chautauqua County, KSVery Low14

Cities in Washington County

Common questions about Washington County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Washington County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Washington County, about $13.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $8.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Washington County had?

Washington County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm and Straight-Line Winds in October 2026.

Is Washington County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 20th 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 Washington County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Washington 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 Washington County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Washington County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 18, 1979. The weather service has also logged 286 hail reports and 46 floods here.

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.