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Woods County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
66th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$12Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Woods County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,360 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $118,000 on 11 claims here.

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

Top risks in Woods County

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 77 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate83.6
$6M
Inland floodingVery Low12.6
$2M
DroughtModerate81.6
$1M
TornadoLow33.6
$793K
HailLow64.6
$563K
Ice stormModerate73.3
$334K
Heat waveLow42.9
$330K
WildfireLow74.7
$322K
Strong windLow17.5
$192K
EarthquakeVery Low24.0
$51K
LightningVery Low9.0
$37K
Winter weatherVery Low20.5
$23K
HurricaneVery Low19.1
$7K
LandslideLow65.1
$5K

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 low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Severe Ice Storm6
Fire2
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jun 14, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 1, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 7, 2017Nw Oklahoma Wildfire Outbreak ComplexFire management
Feb 10, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 10, 2016Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2015Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2013Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 23
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 2009Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms 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
Feb 1, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor 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 832 storm reports in Woods County since 1951, with 1 death and 12 injuries and about $1.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 2, 1956.

57tornadoes
392hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
364damaging thunderstorm winds
13floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1956F3–2 / 0
May 25, 2000F2Dacoma0 / 0
Apr 17, 2002F2Waynoka1 / 0
Jun 18, 1955F2–0 / 0
Jun 17, 1955F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 2, 1956Tornado–$250K
May 31, 1999HailAlva$200K
Jun 17, 2004LightningWaynoka$75K
May 25, 1998Thunderstorm WindAlva$55K
Jul 22, 2000Thunderstorm WindAlva$55K
Jun 5, 1994Thunderstorm WindAlva$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 21, 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 Woods County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$118,208paid on 11 flood claims since 1978
2000costliest year, with $79,852 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 Woods County

$139,600median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1960median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
78%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.7%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; 4,447 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
Woodward CountyVery Low29
Major CountyVery Low31
Alfalfa CountyVery Low28
Barber County, KSVery Low17
Harper CountyLow17
Comanche County, KSVery Low20

Common questions about Woods County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Woods County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Woods County, about $5.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Woods County had?

Woods County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2024.

Is Woods County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th 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 Woods County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Woods 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 Woods County had?

NOAA records list 57 tornadoes in Woods County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 2, 1956. The weather service has also logged 392 hail reports and 13 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.