Enter any address in Ottawa County, Oklahoma to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Neosho River characterizes flood events in Ottawa County, OK. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 122 flood events and 47 flash flood events. Recent flooding occurred in April and May 2024, with widespread rainfall totals of three to eight inches leading to moderate flooding along the Neosho River at Commerce. Earlier, in August 2023, widespread thunderstorms caused locally heavy rainfall and some flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $25,360 and an average water depth of 7.1 feet. Properties in Zone X, though fewer in number, have seen higher average payouts ($29,372) and greater average water depths (8.0 feet). Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas with unknown flood risk, should pay particular attention to flood potential.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
56 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Ottawa County, Oklahoma has recorded 169 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 47 flash floods and 122 river or area floods. The county has received 34 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Tornado | Apr 25, 2024 |
| 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 | Severe Storm | Apr 30, 2019 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 6, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 27, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 21, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 18, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 28, 2024
Several days of reoccurring thunderstorm activity across northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas resulted in widespread 3-day rainfall totals of three to six inches by the morning hours of the 28th. Additional widespread rainfall occurred across northeastern Oklahoma on the 28th, with another one to two inches of rain occurring across the area. This multi-day, widespread heavy rainfall re...
Flood — May 1, 2024
Several days of reoccurring thunderstorm activity across northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas during late April resulted in widespread rainfall totals of three to eight inches across the area. This multi-day, widespread heavy rainfall resulted in moderate flooding along the Neosho River at Commerce, which began April 28th, and continued into early May.
Flash Flood — Aug 13, 2023
Widespread thunderstorms developed across eastern Oklahoma during the evening hours of the 13th and early morning hours of the 14th, as a cold front moved through the region. The strongest thunderstorms produced damaging wind gusts. Locally heavy rainfall resulted in some flash flooding.
Flood — Jun 6, 2022
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms affected northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas on the 5th through the morning of the 6th. The Grand-Neosho River basin received heavy rainfall from these thunderstorms, which resulted in moderate flooding of the Neosho River near Commerce.
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 ...
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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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.