Natural Disaster Risk — ZIP Code 73718

Natural Hazard Profile: ZIP 73718, Oklahoma

ZIP 73718 in Ames sits in the interior eastern United States. Its semi-arid climate produces hot summers, variable winters, and exposure at the center of Tornado Alley, and notably a globally significant tornado season that peaks in spring. These conditions define the natural disaster environment for households across this ZIP code.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, ZIP 73718 carries an overall risk score of 5.7/10, placing it in the moderate category. Ice storm risk tops the local winter hazard profile, with freezing rain events capable of coating roads, trees, and power lines with ice that causes widespread outages and dangerous travel conditions. The area also faces notable exposure to hail and drought.

Within Oklahoma, ZIP 73718's risk is, slightly below the 6.4/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Oklahoma identifies ice storm as the foremost hazard, followed by hail and drought. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

ZIP 73718's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that ice storm exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.