Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, OK natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 76% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding32%Tornadoes29%Cold waves12%Heat waves7%Wildfire6%Hail6%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Washington 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

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

29% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 9 years in the area

Cold waves

12% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Heat waves

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. places

Recorded about 18 times a year in the area

Wildfire

6% of expected damage

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

Hail

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 12 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Washington flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Washington.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: McClain County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

70storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Washington

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for McClain County only

2023

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

34 households applied for aid $166K aid approved

2015

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

18 households applied for aid $24K aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

3 households applied for aid

2011

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

17 households applied for aid $69K aid approved $14K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm

$8K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

15 households applied for aid $29K aid approved

2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$4K to the Town of Washington for repairs

McClain County has had 35 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. Washington is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

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

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.