Natural hazards · Bethany

Bethany, OK natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Bethany comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1982. 15 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Bethany?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Bethany to be higher than in 46% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and heat waves.

Inland flooding32%Heat waves23%Tornadoes19%Hail10%Cold waves7%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Bethany faces

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

Inland flooding

32% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 39% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Heat waves

23% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 45% of U.S. places

Recorded about 18 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

19% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Hail

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about 11 times a year in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce 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 Bethany flood?

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

9paid claims since 1982

$135Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19822026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Bethany isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Oklahoma County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

38storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Bethany

15 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into BethanyDeclared for Oklahoma County only

2021

Severe Winter Storms

61 households applied for aid $16K aid approved

2020

Severe Winter Storm

$1.5M to the City of Bethany for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

$547K to the City of Bethany for repairs

2015

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

11 households applied for aid $12K aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

43 households applied for aid $22K aid approved

2010

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds

2 households applied for aid

2007

Severe Winter Storms

$231K to the City of Bethany for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

3 households applied for aid

2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

6 households applied for aid $11K aid approved

2005

Extreme Wildfire Threat

2 households applied for aid $1K to the City of Bethany for repairs

2003

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

263 households applied for aid $134K aid approved $160K to the City of Bethany for repairs

2002

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$430K to the City of Bethany for repairs

2001

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

$59K to the City of Bethany for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$25K to the City of Bethany for repairs

1999

Ok, Tornadoes 5/3/99

$4K to the City of Bethany for repairs

Oklahoma County has had 42 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and fires.

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. Bethany covers 6 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Bethany’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Bethany. 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 Bethany total about $5.1M 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.