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Building in Broken Arrow OklahomaPhoto: Jordanmac at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Broken Arrow · FEMA

More hazard damage per building is expected in Broken Arrow than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Broken Arrow gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #33 of 131 in Oklahoma. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 108 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 78%Tornadoes 5%Hail 5%

Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded

more than 62%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#33 of 131 in Oklahoma
Hazard risk
C+#33 of 131
in Oklahoma · higher than 62% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
78% of expected building damage
Flood claims
108
paid since 1979 · $3.8M
Flooded more than once
15
properties · 6 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
15% off
Community discount (class 7)

What stands out about Broken Arrow’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

108 paid flood claims since 1979$3.8M in all; 15 properties flooded more than once.15% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Broken Arrow residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7).Made safer with FEMA grants263 storm safe rooms built; 4 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 198625 flood claims were paid for 1986 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Broken Arrow faces

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

River and rain flooding

78%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

5%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

5%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 9 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms top 3% Strong wind Earthquakes Wildfire Winter storms Lightning Hurricanes Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 24% of Broken Arrow’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Broken Arrow’s grade

River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Broken Arrow, and Broken Arrow’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 5%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Broken Arrow sits
Broken Arrow
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #33 of 131 in Oklahoma; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Broken Arrow’s residents live in 49 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding78%Tornadoes5%Hail5%Everything else12%

The typical Oklahoma town has higher expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Broken Arrow has less expected damage per building than 75% of Oklahoma towns.

Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Broken Arrow has higher expected damage per building than 54% (#215 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $48.5M, is the 253th largest of those 400.

A firm figure. It combines 49 census tracts by where Broken Arrow’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Broken Arrow flood? Yes: 108 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Broken Arrow, from FEMA’s records: 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 2 claims1980: 3 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 1 claim1983: 0 claims1984: 18 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 25 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 3 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 4 claims1993: 3 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 2 claims1999: 9 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 2 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 8 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 11 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 6 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 8 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 0 claims2026: 1 claim198419862008
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Early summer storms6 claims · $598K
108
paid claims since 1979
$3.8M
paid to owners
15
homes flooded more than once
$35K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (6)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount15% off flood insurance

Broken Arrow is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Tulsa County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
263storm safe rooms built
4flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Broken Arrow

Disasters that paid out in Broken Arrow itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Broken Arrow), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes$711K to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs
  2. 2022Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding77 households applied for aid$300 aid approved
  3. 2021Severe Winter Storms135 households applied for aid$32K aid approved
  4. 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding114 households applied for aid$118K aid approved$2.0M to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding98 households applied for aid$115K aid approved$172K to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$87K to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2009Severe Winter Storm$172K to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs
  2. 2007Severe Winter Storms$2.4M to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs
  3. 2007Severe Winter Storms$102K to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs
  4. 2005Extreme Wildfire Threat$7K to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs
  5. 2000Severe Winter Ice Storm$49K to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Broken Arrowits 2 counties only

Its 2 counties have had 32 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Also 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 2 counties, 2006–2017.

Were you here?

Old photos of Broken Arrow after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Broken Arrow archive →
Next door

Broken Arrow and its neighbors

Broken Arrow is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Tulsa: hazard risk C+Bixby: hazard risk C−Coweta: hazard risk CTulsaBixbyCowetaBroken Arrow
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
TulsaC+more damage than 57%river and rain flooding2,197
Broken ArrowC+more damage than 62%river and rain flooding108
CowetaCmore damage than 73%river and rain flooding62
BixbyC−more damage than 81%river and rain flooding230

Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.

Be ready

Get ready for what Broken Arrow faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
  • Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
  • Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
  • A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
  • Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
  • Stay away from windows while it falls.
  • Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
  • Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
  • Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
  • Broken Arrow residents get 15% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Broken Arrow

Is Broken Arrow at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Broken Arrow has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #33 of 131 in Oklahoma. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Broken Arrow flood?

Flood insurance has paid 108 claims in Broken Arrow since 1979, $3.8M in all, or 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early summer storms (6).

Is Broken Arrow in a flood zone?

Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Tulsa County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Broken Arrow?

Broken Arrow is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Broken Arrow?

By FEMA money that reached Broken Arrow, Severe Winter Storms (2007): $2.4M to the City of Broken Arrow for repairs. By flood claims, Early summer storms: 6 paid, $598K.

Is Broken Arrow at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Broken Arrow’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Broken Arrow.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Broken Arrow’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.