Flood insurance covers losses caused by rising bodies of water, runoff, and mudflow. Standard home insurance in Oklahoma does not cover floods, so you’ll need to buy standalone flood insurance or add flood coverage to your existing home policy via endorsement for financial protection.
From 1980 to 2024, Oklahoma experienced six severe flooding events, each causing over $1 billion in damage. Severe spring rainfall in April 2025 prompted a state of emergency declaration in three Oklahoma counties, leaving 85% of streets closed in the small city of Waurika and requiring multiple water rescues.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding in Oklahoma?
Standard home insurance policies do not cover flooding. This includes flood damage from rain, storms, overflowing bodies of water, rising groundwater, or surface water seepage. Home insurance does cover water damage from non-flood sources, like burst pipes, leaking plumbing, broken appliances, or overflow from a clogged drain.
Oklahoma averages over 50 tornadoes annually. These storm conditions can cause thunderstorms and flash flooding, but even flooding initially caused by a tornado outbreak is not covered by home insurance. You’ll need a separate flood insurance endorsement or policy for coverage.
Who needs flood insurance in Oklahoma?
You likely need flood insurance in Oklahoma if:
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Your mortgage is backed by the federal government — such as an FHA, USDA, VA, or Fannie/Freddie loan — and you live in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). These are areas that have a 1% chance of flooding annually.
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Your conventional mortgage lender requires flood insurance.
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You live in a home that received federal disaster aid in the past, even if the disaster didn’t take place when you owned the property. Opting out of flood insurance in this situation disqualifies you from further federal disaster aid assistance.
According to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), around one-third of flood insurance claims come from properties outside of high-risk flood zones. Even if you don’t live in a SFHA, Oklahoma has several factors that contribute to flood risk:
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Warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico contributes to higher precipitation levels in southern and eastern Oklahoma.
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Areas near bodies of water — such as the Arkansas River and the Red River — are at ongoing risk for water overflow.
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Development in residential and urban areas like Tulsa increases the area of impervious surfaces that repel, not absorb, water, which accelerates runoff water.
Despite the risks, flood insurance uptake among Oklahoma households remains low. According to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, only 13.5% of homes in high and moderate flood risk areas have active flood insurance policies.
Your flood insurance options in Oklahoma
You have two main options to buy flood insurance in Oklahoma: private insurance or the NFIP.
You can purchase flood insurance directly from a private insurance company as a separate policy, or potentially add it to your existing home insurance with a policy add-on called an endorsement. However, endorsement options generally have less customizability and lower coverage limits than standalone policies.
The NFIP is a federally backed program that provides flood insurance through participating private insurers. Over 400 Oklahoma communities participate in the program.
There are key differences between private flood policies and NFIP coverage. Private flood policies generally have shorter waiting periods between when you purchase coverage and when it becomes effective and higher coverage limits. However, an NFIP policy may be your only option if you live in a high-risk flood area.
|
Feature |
Private flood insurance |
NFIP flood insurance |
|
Dwelling coverage limit |
Up to $1 million or more |
Up to $250,000 |
|
Contents coverage limit |
Up to $500,000 or more |
Up to $100,000 |
|
Contents value |
May offer replacement cost coverage |
Actual cash value only |
|
Additional living expenses coverage |
May be included |
Not included |
|
Waiting period |
Often 10–14 days or less |
30 days — waiting period may be waived or modified if you are buying a home or your community’s flood map recently changed |
|
Basement coverage |
May cover basement finishings, upgrades, and personal belongings, as well as basic coverage of mechanical systems, unfinished drywall, and foundational elements |
Mechanical systems, unfinished drywall, and foundational elements only |
|
Government shutdown risk |
None |
Sales and renewals may pause during a shutdown |
|
Availability |
Insurers may not cover homes in high-risk areas, or may not renew your policy |
Open to all eligible homeowners in participating communities |
Note that both private carriers and the NFIP may institute moratoriums — pauses on issuing new flood policies — when flood events are forecasted. Shopping around and comparing flood policy options early can help you get coverage in place before you need it.
How much does flood insurance cost in Oklahoma?
The median cost of flood insurance in Oklahoma is $793 per year, according to the NFIP. But the cost of your policy depends on details about your home and location. Private insurance may cost less than NFIP policies for lower-risk homes, and you can generally purchase more robust coverage.
The NFIP policy now uses Risk Rating 2.0 to set prices, evaluating each property individually rather than going by the general flood zone area.
How much flood insurance is in Oklahoma depends on:
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Coverage limits: The more coverage you buy for your home and your personal belongings, the more you will pay for your policy.
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Deductible: Your deductible is the amount of damage you agree to cover out of pocket in the event of an approved claim. Choosing a higher deductible leads to lower rates, but it’s important to make sure you could easily afford the amount you select.
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Flood zone: The risk level of the flood zone area you live in helps determine your policy cost. The higher the risk, the more you pay for coverage. This includes proximity to water, like rivers and ponds.
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Elevation: If your home’s ground elevation is at or above base flood elevation (BFE) — the height that waters are expected to rise in a flood — you may pay less.
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Foundation and flood openings: The elevation of your home’s foundation and whether you have a basement can affect your insurance rates. Flood openings that allow water to flow through can reduce foundation damage from water pressure and potentially reduce your rates.
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Elevation of equipment: Elevating home systems, appliances, and equipment, such as HVAC systems, above the BFE could save you money on your flood insurance.
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Age and construction: Newer homes may qualify for lower rates than older homes built with outdated materials. Concrete and masonry structures may also be cheaper to cover than buildings made from other materials.
Check to see if your community participates in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that can save homeowners up to 45% on an NFIP policy.
How to get flood insurance in Oklahoma
Private flood insurance in Oklahoma is your only option if you live in a community that doesn’t participate in the NFIP. Even if NFIP policies are available to you, private insurance can offer higher coverage limits, shorter waiting periods, and potentially lower rates. To purchase private flood insurance, you can shop around for a standalone policy or you can ask your home insurance company about adding a flood endorsement to your policy.
You can get quotes for an NFIP policy from Floodsmart.gov, or purchase a policy directly through licensed agents in Oklahoma’s 400-plus participating communities. Remember, NFIP coverage has a waiting period of 30 days before coverage takes effect, so you should act well before storm season starts. April through July is Oklahoma’s peak flood season.
Frequently asked questions
Is flood insurance required in Oklahoma?
Flood insurance is required in Oklahoma if you have a federally backed mortgage and you live in a SFHA. If you previously received federal disaster assistance for a flood, you must have coverage to maintain eligibility for future flood aid. Private mortgage lenders may also require flood insurance, even if you live outside a high-risk zone.
What does Oklahoma flood insurance cover?
NFIP Oklahoma flood insurance covers losses and damage to the physical structure of your home and your personal belongings caused by flooding. Private policies may also cover additional costs you incur while your home is uninhabitable due to covered flood loss, like hotel stays. This coverage is called additional living expenses (ALE). Flood insurance does not cover moisture or mildew that could have been prevented by maintenance, outdoor property, vehicles parked on the property, earth movement, sewer backups that were not caused by external flooding, and more.
Does flood insurance cover flash flood damage?
Flood insurance covers losses caused by flash floods, which are characterized by rapid rainfall, overwhelmed drainage systems, and overflowing waterways. Flash flooding is common with tornadoes, but damage caused by a tornado, such as wind and flying debris, is not covered by flood insurance and must be handled through your home insurance policy.
How long does it take for flood insurance to kick in?
NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period, which means coverage doesn’t take effect until 30 days after you buy the policy. The waiting period may be waived if you’re buying a home with a federally backed mortgage, your community flood map changed, or you are taking over the policy from the previous homeowner. Private flood insurance often has shorter waiting periods (10 to 15 days) — or no waiting period at all.
Can I add flood coverage to my existing homeowners policy?
Some home insurance providers offer flood insurance as an endorsement to their standard home insurance policies. These add-ons may include loss of use (aka additional living expenses) coverage and provide more comprehensive basement coverage than an NFIP policy. This may also simplify your claims process in the event of damage caused by flooding and another covered source of damage, like a tornado. If your current insurer doesn’t offer flood insurance, you will need to buy a standalone policy from a private carrier or the NFIP.
