Natural hazards · Norman

Norman, OK natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Norman comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 127 claims here since 1979. 16 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Norman?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Norman to be higher than in 60% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding31%Cold waves17%Tornadoes16%Hail10%Heat waves10%Ice storms6%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Norman faces

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

Inland flooding

31% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 49% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

17% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

16% of expected damage

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

Hail

10% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 11 times a year in the area

Heat waves

10% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. places

Recorded about 18 times a year in the area

Ice storms

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesWinter 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 Norman flood?

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

127paid claims since 1979

$2.7Mpaid to owners

17homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Early summer storms: 10 claims, $323K
Tropical Storm Bill: 1 claim, $3K

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

🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Norman is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Cleveland County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

791storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Norman

16 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into NormanDeclared for Cleveland County only

2025

Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds

21 households applied for aid $74K aid approved

2023

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

50 households applied for aid $62K aid approved

2021

Severe Winter Storms

2 households applied for aid

2020

Severe Winter Storm

$4.7M to the City of Norman for repairs

2015

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

949 households applied for aid $1.2M aid approved $1.1M to the City of Norman for repairs

2013

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

309 households applied for aid $310K aid approved $515K to the City of Norman for repairs

2012

Freedom and Noble Wildfires

57 households applied for aid $491K aid approved

2010

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds

208 households applied for aid $375K aid approved $409K to the City of Norman for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm

$198K to the City of Norman for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm

$222K to the City of Norman for repairs

2007

Severe Winter Storms

$5.3M to the City of Norman for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

127 households applied for aid $281K aid approved $156K to the City of Norman for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

209 households applied for aid $175K aid approved

2005

Extreme Wildfire Threat

$11K to the City of Norman for repairs

2003

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

18 households applied for aid $5K aid approved $18K to the City of Norman for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$260K to the City of Norman for repairs

Cleveland County has had 34 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and fires.

Around Norman

Norman and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Slaughtervillemostly inland floodingHigh

Newcastlemostly tornadoesHigh

Oklahoma Citymostly inland floodingHigh

Normanmostly inland floodingHigh

Mooremostly inland floodingModerate

Noblemostly inland floodingModerate

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. Norman covers 33 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Norman’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Norman. 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 Norman total about $50.2M 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.