Natural hazards · Bartlesville

Bartlesville, OK natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Bartlesville comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 261 claims here since 1979. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Bartlesville?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Bartlesville to be higher than in 78% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding45%Tornadoes26%Cold waves10%Heat waves9%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Bartlesville faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

45% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

26% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Cold waves

10% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Heat waves

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Recorded about 24 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Bartlesville flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bartlesville, from FEMA’s records.

261paid claims since 1979

$7.0Mpaid to owners

16homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Thunderstorms: 45 claims, $1.5M

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (12) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Bartlesville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Washington County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

208storm safe rooms built

20flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Bartlesville

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Bartlesville itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Bartlesville.

Brought FEMA money into BartlesvilleDeclared for Washington County only

2024

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

271 households applied for aid $568K aid approved $590K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

2021

Severe Winter Storms

1 household applied for aid

2019

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

108 households applied for aid $225K aid approved $110K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$37K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm

$32K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm

$30K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

2007

Severe Winter Storms

$74K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

175 households applied for aid $686K aid approved $109K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

2003

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

51 households applied for aid $19K aid approved $6K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

2002

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$21K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$89K to the City of Bartlesville for repairs

Washington County has had 25 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and ice storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Bartlesville covers 9 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Bartlesville’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Bartlesville. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Bartlesville total about $21.2M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.