Tulsa, OK Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Tulsa faces flooding from the Arkansas River, Bird Creek, and Mingo Creek. The devastating 1984 Memorial Day flood led to major investments in flood control and floodplain management that became a national model.
Tulsa County has recorded 3,822 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $71.1M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 6
NFIP Policies
2,147
Tulsa County
Avg. Premium
$963/yr
Tulsa County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Tulsa County
Properties in Tulsa County have filed 3,822 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $71.1M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $19K.
Highest-Claim Years
1984
1,532 claims - $31.1M
1986
502 claims - $7.2M
1979
240 claims - $845K
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Tulsa County
Only roughly 1 in 123 households in Tulsa County carries NFIP flood insurance (0.8% of estimated households). With 301 recorded flood events and $6.2M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.8%
roughly 1 in 123 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
3,822 claims over 45+ years across 2,147 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$18,595
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Tulsa County has averaged 1.8 claims for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Tulsa.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Tulsa County
Tulsa County has 161 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 17 severe repetitive loss properties. 10 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
161
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
17
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
10
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Tulsa
Tulsa participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 1
SFHA Premium Discount
45% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Tulsa's Class 1 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 45% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Tulsa County
Tulsa County has been included in 10 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 2 earlier declarations since 1971.
These declarations affected communities across Tulsa County, including Tulsa.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Tulsa County
NOAA has recorded 301 flood events in Tulsa County since 1996, causing $6.2M in damage and 10 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Tulsa County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 664 properties in Tulsa County, investing $16.5M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
Levee Protection: Tulsa
The USACE National Levee Database lists 5 levee systems protecting parts of Tulsa. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped: accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited systems generally leave their protected area in the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until certification is complete.
Tulsa-Bird Creek System
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Bird Creek - Sponsor: Tulsa County Drainage District #12 - 0.85 sq mi protected
Tulsa-West Tulsa Levee - Levee A and B
AccreditedProtects against: Arkansas River, Bigheart Creek, Creek, Harlow Creek - Sponsor: Drainge District 12 - 3.68 sq mi protected
Tulsa-West Tulsa Levee - Levee C
AccreditedProtects against: Arkansas River, Berryhill Creek, Creek - Sponsor: Drainge District 12 - 3.95 sq mi protected
Jenks Levee
AccreditedProtects against: Arkansas River, Hager Creek, Hager Creek/Polecat Creek - Sponsor: Tulsa County, OK - 3.02 sq mi protected
Tulsa-Mingo Creek System
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Mingo Creek - Sponsor: City of Tulsa, Oklahoma - 0.13 sq mi protected
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Tulsa County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $137.9M
Hurricane Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $47K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Tulsa
Tulsa faces multiple inland flood threats, including riverine flooding from nearby waterways and flash flooding from intense rainfall overwhelming urban drainage systems. Properties near river corridors face the highest risk, but stormwater backup can affect neighborhoods well outside the mapped floodplain. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Tulsa are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $137.9M.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in Tulsa depend heavily on a property's elevation relative to nearby waterways and the local drainage infrastructure. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 prices in multiple inland flood sources rather than relying on the flood zone line alone. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Flood zone boundaries in Tulsa can shift when FEMA updates its Flood Insurance Studies or when upstream development changes how water moves through the watershed. New stormwater infrastructure or dam modifications can also trigger map revisions. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Tulsa address.
Tulsa, OK Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Tulsa, OK?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Tulsa are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Tulsa?
If your Tulsa property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Tulsa?
Enter your Tulsa address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Tulsa offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Tulsa participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 1 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 45% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Tulsa experienced major flooding events?
Tulsa County, where Tulsa is located, has been part of 10 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Flooding in 2019. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Tulsa?
Tulsa County has recorded 3,822 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $71.1M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1984, with 1,532 claims and $31.1M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Tulsa.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Tulsa?
Tulsa County had 2,147 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $963. The most policies are in Zone X (1,111 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Tulsa properties have flooded repeatedly?
Tulsa County has 161 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 17 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Is Tulsa protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 5 levee systems protecting parts of Tulsa. Some of these are FEMA-accredited and some are not - accreditation status varies by system, and only the accredited ones map their protected area as Zone X. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my Tulsa property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Tulsa?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Tulsa's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other Oklahoma Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Tulsa, OK Address
Enter a Tulsa, OK address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Multi-county note: Tulsa spans 3 counties: Tulsa County (87.9%), Wagoner (6.7%), and Osage (5.3%). The county-level flood risk data on this page reflects Tulsa County only, which covers about 87.9% of the city. Use the address search above to check flood zone data specific to your property.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.