Woods County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 83.6 | $6M | ||
| Inland flooding | 12.6 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 81.6 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 33.6 | $793K | ||
| Hail | 64.6 | $563K | ||
| Ice storm | 73.3 | $334K | ||
| Heat wave | 42.9 | $330K | ||
| Wildfire | 74.7 | $322K | ||
| Strong wind | 17.5 | $192K | ||
| Earthquake | 24.0 | $51K | ||
| Lightning | 9.0 | $37K | ||
| Winter weather | 20.5 | $23K | ||
| Hurricane | 19.1 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 65.1 | $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
Most recent
Show all 23
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1956 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| May 25, 2000 | F2 | Dacoma | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 17, 2002 | F2 | Waynoka | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1955 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 1955 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1956 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 31, 1999 | Hail | Alva | $200K |
| Jun 17, 2004 | Lightning | Waynoka | $75K |
| May 25, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alva | $55K |
| Jul 22, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alva | $55K |
| Jun 5, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alva | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Woodward County | 29 | |
| Major County | 31 | |
| Alfalfa County | 28 | |
| Barber County, KS | 17 | |
| Harper County | 17 | |
| Comanche County, KS | 20 |
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.