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Pre-Statehood Commercial DistrictPhoto: Valis55 · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Muskogee · FEMA

For ice storms, Muskogee’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Muskogee gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #20 of 131 in Oklahoma. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (57%), then ice storms (15%). Flood insurance has paid 151 claims here since 1982.

River and rain flooding 57%Ice storms 15%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 56%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#20 of 131 in Oklahoma
Hazard risk
C+#20 of 131
in Oklahoma · higher than 56% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
57% of expected building damage
Flood claims
151
paid since 1982 · $5.4M
Flooded more than once
15
properties · 8 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
18
of 26 declared for Muskogee County

What stands out about Muskogee’s natural hazards

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

151 paid flood claims since 1982$5.4M in all; 15 properties flooded more than once.Made safer with FEMA grants91 storm safe rooms built; 47 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 202235 flood claims were paid for 2022 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Muskogee 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

57%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Ice storms

15%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hail

13%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 9 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

6%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Winter storms top 4% Wildfire Hurricanes Lightning 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 13% of Muskogee’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 Muskogee’s grade

River and rain flooding is 57% of the building damage FEMA expects in Muskogee, and Muskogee’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 15%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Muskogee sits
Muskogee
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #20 of 131 in Oklahoma; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Muskogee’s residents live in 16 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding57%Ice storms15%Hail13%Everything else15%

The typical Oklahoma town has higher expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Muskogee has less expected damage per building than 85% of Oklahoma towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.4M a year in losses across Muskogee: $9.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 16 census tracts by where Muskogee’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 Muskogee flood? Yes: 151 flood claims since 1982

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Muskogee, from FEMA’s records: 8.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1982: 1 claim1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 12 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 16 claims1991: 1 claim1992: 2 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 14 claims1997: 2 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 14 claims2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 12 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 1 claim2008: 2 claims2009: 2 claims2010: 8 claims2011: 2 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 12 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 6 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 2 claims2020: 1 claim2021: 0 claims2022: 35 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 1 claim2026: 0 claims199019962022
19822026
Biggest named events
  • The Early winter storms12 claims · $419K
  • The Thunderstorms1 claim · $4K
151
paid claims since 1982
$5.4M
paid to owners
15
homes flooded more than once
$36K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (8)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Muskogee County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
91storm safe rooms built
47flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

18 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Muskogee

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

  1. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding54 households applied for aid$220K aid approved
  2. 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes$165K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  3. 2022Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding376 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved35 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2021Severe Winter Storms59 households applied for aid$36K aid approved
  5. 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding136 households applied for aid$528K aid approved$3.3M to the City of Muskogee for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$10K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
Show all 18
  1. 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$43K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  2. 2015Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$117K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  3. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$138K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  4. 2010Severe Winter Storm$16K to the City of Muskogee for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2009Severe Winter Storm$38K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  6. 2009Severe Winter Storm$21K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  7. 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes48 households applied for aid$107K aid approved
  8. 2007Severe Winter Storms$5.3M to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  9. 2005Extreme Wildfire Threat17 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$3K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  10. 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$77K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  11. 2003Severe Storms and Tornadoes26 households applied for aid$33K aid approved$106K to the City of Muskogee for repairs
  12. 2000Severe Winter Ice Storm$68K to the City of Muskogee for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in MuskogeeMuskogee County only

Muskogee County has had 26 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Muskogee County, 2006–2006.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Muskogee archive →
Next door

Muskogee and its neighbors

Muskogee has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Fort Gibson: hazard risk CSummit: not gradedFort GibsonSummitMuskogee
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
MuskogeeC+more damage than 56%river and rain flooding151
Fort GibsonCmore damage than 69%river and rain flooding32
Summit—124 residents; we grade 1,000+

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 Muskogee 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 ↗
Ice storms
  • Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
  • Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
  • Keep sand or salt by the door.
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 ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
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 Muskogee

Is Muskogee at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Muskogee has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #20 of 131 in Oklahoma. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (57%) and ice storms (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Muskogee flood?

Flood insurance has paid 151 claims in Muskogee since 1982, $5.4M in all, or 8.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early winter storms (12).

Is Muskogee 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 Muskogee County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Muskogee?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Muskogee’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 Muskogee?

By FEMA money that reached Muskogee, Severe Winter Storms (2007): $5.3M to the City of Muskogee for repairs. By flood claims, Early winter storms: 12 paid, $419K.

Is Muskogee at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (57%), and Muskogee’s rate for it is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Muskogee.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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