Enter any address in Cherokee County, Oklahoma to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Cherokee County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 71 flash flood events and 59 general flood events, with flash flooding accounting for 5 fatalities. For example, in April 2024, severe thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall across northeastern Oklahoma. Similarly, in May 2022, a strong storm system brought thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to eastern Oklahoma.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $18,540 and an average water depth of 10.8 feet. Zone X also saw significant claims, with an average payout of $17,915 and an average water depth of 10.8 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED had fewer claims, with a lower average payout and water depth. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, particularly those near waterways or in areas prone to heavy rainfall, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
50 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cherokee County, Oklahoma has recorded 130 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 71 flash floods and 59 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 2, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 8, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 8, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 7, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Tornado | May 16, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 26, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 5, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 4, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 19, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 15, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 11, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 28, 2024
Severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of the 27th over central Oklahoma, along and ahead of the dry line, as a strong upper level low pressure system deepened into the Southern Rockies. Strong instability and strong wind shear over eastern Oklahoma supported organized severe thunderstorms, including supercells. The first round of storms affected portions of far northeastern Oklaho...
Flood — May 5, 2022
A strong storm system slowly moved from the central Rockies into the Southern and Central Plains on the 4th and 5th. The associated surface frontal boundary located over northern Texas early on the 4th moved north into central Oklahoma as a warm front by the late afternoon, and then near the Kansas border on the 5th ahead of a cold front. The first round of thunderstorms developed over eastern ...
Flood — May 4, 2022
A strong storm system slowly moved from the central Rockies into the Southern and Central Plains on the 4th and 5th. The associated surface frontal boundary located over northern Texas early on the 4th moved north into central Oklahoma as a warm front by the late afternoon, and then near the Kansas border on the 5th ahead of a cold front. The first round of thunderstorms developed over eastern ...
Flood — Apr 28, 2021
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved through eastern Oklahoma during the morning of the 28th. These storms produced locally heavy rainfall that resulted in flash flooding, damaging wind gusts, and three tornadoes. Another round of thunderstorms developed across eastern Oklahoma during the evening of the 28th, as a cold front moved into the area. The strongest storms produced damaging wind.||Wid...
Flood — Dec 18, 2021
Widespread showers and thunderstorms developed across northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas on the 17th, north of a warm front that was approaching from northeastern Texas, and ahead of a strong upper level disturbance that moved into the Southern Plains from the Southern Rockies. Unseasonably rich moisture was in place across the area, which promoted locally heavy rainfall. Some of t...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Cherokee County, Oklahoma:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Cherokee County, Oklahoma that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.