Washita County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Washita County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 68% of US counties. It ranks 63rd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $627 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (29 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Washita 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 19.8 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 60.7 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 90.7 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 53.0 | $707K | ||
| Strong wind | 67.8 | $603K | ||
| Ice storm | 88.9 | $547K | ||
| Hail | 77.9 | $520K | ||
| Heat wave | 45.2 | $194K | ||
| Earthquake | 42.6 | $118K | ||
| Wildfire | 68.9 | $108K | ||
| Winter weather | 54.9 | $51K | ||
| Lightning | 7.9 | $17K | ||
| Hurricane | 25.2 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 42.2 | $512 |
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 Washita County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 35
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 814 storm reports in Washita County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 23 injuries and about $104 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 25, 1962.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 1962 | F4 | – | 9 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2001 | F3 | Cordell | 9 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2001 | F3 | Cowden | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 1950 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1951 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2001 | Tornado | Cordell | $100M |
| Oct 9, 2001 | Tornado | Cowden | $600K |
| Apr 28, 1950 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 8, 1951 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 25, 1962 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 2, 1975 | Tornado | – | $250K |
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 Washita 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 Washita 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; 5,140 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Custer County | 30 | |
| Caddo County | 42 | |
| Beckham County | 26 | |
| Kiowa County | 34 |
Common questions about Washita County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Washita County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Washita County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Washita County had?
Washita County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 29 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in March 2025.
Is Washita County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 63rd 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 Washita County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Washita 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 Washita County had?
NOAA records list 54 tornadoes in Washita County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 25, 1962. The weather service has also logged 449 hail reports and 17 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.