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City Hall, Choctaw, OklahomaPhoto: kennethaw88 · CC BY 4.0
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Choctaw · FEMA

For tornadoes, Choctaw’s building-damage rate is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Choctaw gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #42 of 131 in Oklahoma. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1989.

River and rain flooding 61%Tornadoes 17%Hail 13%

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 65%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#42 of 131 in Oklahoma
Hazard risk
C+#42 of 131
in Oklahoma · higher than 65% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
61% of expected building damage
Flood claims
19
paid since 1989 · $535K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
17
of 31 declared for Oklahoma County
By hazard

What Choctaw 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

61%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

17%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

13%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 11 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms top 4% Earthquakes Wildfire Strong wind Lightning Winter storms 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 17% of Choctaw’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 Choctaw’s grade

River and rain flooding is 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Choctaw, and Choctaw’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 17%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Choctaw sits
Choctaw
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #42 of 131 in Oklahoma; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Choctaw’s residents live in 10 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding61%Tornadoes17%Hail13%Everything else9%

The typical Oklahoma town has higher expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Choctaw has less expected damage per building than 68% of Oklahoma towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Choctaw: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 10 census tracts by where Choctaw’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 Choctaw flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1989

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Choctaw, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1989: 1 claim1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 13 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198919932013
19892026
19
paid claims since 1989
$535K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$28K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Choctaw isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Oklahoma County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
239storm safe rooms built
Disasters

17 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Choctaw

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

  1. 2025Wildfires and Straight-line Winds2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  2. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$146K to the City of Choctaw for repairs
  3. 2021Severe Winter Storms48 households applied for aid$15K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2020Severe Winter Storm$382K to the City of Choctaw for repairs
  5. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding108 households applied for aid$64K aid approved$48K to the City of Choctaw for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  6. 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding124 households applied for aid$102K aid approved$51K to the City of Choctaw for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
Show all 17
  1. 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$20K to the City of Choctaw for repairs
  2. 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds105 households applied for aid$158K aid approved
  3. 2009Wildfires53 households applied for aid$196K aid approved
  4. 2007Severe Winter Storms$1.0M to the City of Choctaw for repairs
  5. 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  6. 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes23 households applied for aid$38K aid approved
  7. 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$10K to the City of Choctaw for repairs
  8. 2005Extreme Wildfire Threat8 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$4K to the City of Choctaw for repairs
  9. 2003Severe Storms and Tornadoes116 households applied for aid$45K aid approved$101K to the City of Choctaw for repairs
  10. 2000Severe Winter Ice Storm$3K to the City of Choctaw for repairs
  11. 1999Ok, Tornadoes 5/3/99$41K to the City of Choctaw for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in ChoctawOklahoma County only

Oklahoma County has had 31 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Also 14 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Oklahoma County, 2005–2026.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Choctaw archive →
Next door

Choctaw and its neighbors

Choctaw is 4th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Oklahoma City: hazard risk CMidwest City: hazard risk C+Jones: hazard risk CNicoma Park: hazard risk B−Harrah: hazard risk C+Oklahoma CityMidwest CityJonesNicoma ParkHarrahChoctaw
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Nicoma ParkB−more damage than 52%river and rain flooding3
HarrahC+more damage than 60%river and rain flooding2
Midwest CityC+more damage than 64%river and rain flooding48
ChoctawC+more damage than 65%river and rain flooding19
Oklahoma CityCmore damage than 68%river and rain flooding996
JonesCmore damage than 68%river and rain flooding21

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 Choctaw 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.
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 Choctaw

Is Choctaw at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Choctaw has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #42 of 131 in Oklahoma. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Choctaw flood?

Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Choctaw since 1989, $535K in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.

Is Choctaw 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 Oklahoma County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Choctaw?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Choctaw’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Choctaw?

By FEMA money that reached Choctaw, Severe Winter Storms (2007): $1.0M to the City of Choctaw for repairs.

Is Choctaw at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Choctaw’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Choctaw.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Choctaw’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.