Enter any address in Delaware County, Oklahoma to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Delaware County, OK. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 34 flash flood events and 9 flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on April 28, 2021, following strong thunderstorms that produced locally heavy rainfall, and flash flooding on August 14, 2020, caused by slow-moving storms dropping up to seven inches of rain.
NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $11,789 and an average water depth of 3.7 feet. However, properties in Zone X have seen higher average payouts ($23,342) and greater average water depths (7.0 feet), suggesting that even areas not mapped in higher-risk zones can experience significant flooding. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Delaware County, Oklahoma has recorded 43 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 34 flash floods and 9 river or area floods. The county has received 33 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 (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 14, 2023 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 30, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 6, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 27, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2015 | 75.00K |
| Flood | Apr 18, 2013 | 0.00K |
Flash 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...
Flash Flood — Aug 14, 2020
Slow-moving thunderstorms that moved repeatedly across the same areas resulted in locally heavy rainfall of up to four to seven inches. This excessive rainfall, which fell in just a few hours, resulted in localized flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Apr 30, 2019
Strong to severe thunderstorms developed across eastern Oklahoma during the early afternoon hours of the 30th, to the east of a stationary frontal boundary that was located across north-central Oklahoma into northwest Texas. Moderately strong instability combined with strong wind shear resulted in the development of supercell thunderstorms, which produced multiple tornadoes, including two stron...
Flash Flood — Jun 23, 2019
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms moved across eastern Oklahoma from the afternoon of June 22nd through the early morning hours of the 24th, as a cold front approached the area from the west. The strongest storms produced damaging wind and large hail up to quarter size. In addition, widespread two to four inches of rain occurred across the area, with some areas receiving between five and seven i...
Flood — Oct 6, 2019
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms moved across northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas from the early morning hours of October 5th into the afternoon hours of the 6th, as a cold front slowly moved through the area. A large portion of northeastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas received between five and eight inches of rain during this event, with some areas of northwestern Ar...
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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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.