Woodward County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Woodward County, Oklahoma has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 58% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $621 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (43 Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (62 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $188,000 on 46 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Woodward 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 36.8 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 61.4 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 51.4 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 89.3 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 75.9 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 79.9 | $908K | ||
| Ice storm | 89.6 | $872K | ||
| Hail | 78.2 | $775K | ||
| Strong wind | 53.8 | $600K | ||
| Earthquake | 33.3 | $97K | ||
| Winter weather | 57.9 | $83K | ||
| Lightning | 15.4 | $51K | ||
| Hurricane | 20.8 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 53.3 | $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 low and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Woodward County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 29
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 1,030 storm reports in Woodward County since 1950, with 6 deaths and 39 injuries and about $3.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 14, 2012 near Tangier.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14, 2012 | EF3 | Tangier | 29 / 6 |
| Oct 31, 1984 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 1991 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 5, 2007 | EF2 | Sharon | 0 / 0 |
| May 4, 1950 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Woodward | $500K |
| Jun 18, 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mooreland Arpt | $361K |
| May 5, 2007 | Tornado | Sharon | $300K |
| May 4, 1950 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Oct 31, 1984 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 26, 1991 | 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 Woodward 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 Woodward 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; 9,391 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Woods County | 23 | |
| Major County | 31 | |
| Dewey County | 33 | |
| Ellis County | 27 | |
| Harper County | 17 |
Common questions about Woodward County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Woodward County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Woodward County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Woodward County had?
Woodward County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was 43 Fire in February 2026.
Is Woodward County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 50th 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 Woodward County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Woodward 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 Woodward County had?
NOAA records list 65 tornadoes in Woodward County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 14, 2012 near Tangier. The weather service has also logged 521 hail reports and 18 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.