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Woodward County, Oklahoma

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

Very Low overall risk
50th of 77highest risk in Oklahoma
$13Mexpected losses a year
29federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$4.2 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.
$1.4 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow36.8
$4M
Cold waveLow61.4
$1M
TornadoLow51.4
$1M
WildfireModerate89.3
$1M
Heat waveLow75.9
$1M
DroughtModerate79.9
$908K
Ice stormHigh89.6
$872K
HailModerate78.2
$775K
Strong windModerate53.8
$600K
EarthquakeVery Low33.3
$97K
Winter weatherLow57.9
$83K
LightningVery Low15.4
$51K
HurricaneVery Low20.8
$6K
LandslideVery Low53.3
$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

Fire11
Severe Storm10
Severe Ice Storm5
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Feb 17, 202643 FireFire management
Apr 6, 202457 FireFire management
Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 26, 2019Highway 50 FireFire management
Jun 1, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2018WildfiresMajor disaster
Apr 13, 201834 Fire ComplexFire management
Mar 7, 2017Nw Oklahoma Wildfire Outbreak ComplexFire management
Show all 29
Feb 10, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2016350 Fire ComplexFire management
Apr 8, 2013Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 2009Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2008Quinlan FireFire management
Feb 25, 2008South Woodward FireFire management
Dec 10, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 7, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor 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
Jun 29, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 27, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
Jun 26, 1995Tornadoes, Severe 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 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.

65tornadoes
521hail reports, largest 5 inches
418damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 14, 2012EF3Tangier29 / 6
Oct 31, 1984F3–0 / 0
May 26, 1991F3–0 / 0
May 5, 2007EF2Sharon0 / 0
May 4, 1950F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 21, 2026Thunderstorm WindWoodward$500K
Jun 18, 2016Thunderstorm WindMooreland Arpt$361K
May 5, 2007TornadoSharon$300K
May 4, 1950Tornado–$250K
Oct 31, 1984Tornado–$250K
May 26, 1991Tornado–$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 ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (62 policies)
14%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$187,666paid on 46 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $60,670 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 Woodward County

$169,000median home value (Oklahoma $199,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Oklahoma 1980, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.5%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; 9,391 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
Woods CountyVery Low23
Major CountyVery Low31
Dewey CountyVery Low33
Ellis CountyVery Low27
Harper CountyLow17

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.