Storms, floods and disasters in Ohio
Ohio isn’t graded for hazard risk: Ohio has 980 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2011.
What Ohio 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
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.
Does Ohio flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ohio, from FEMA’s records.
Ohio isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Herkimer County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ohio
Disasters that paid out in Ohio itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Ohio), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$1.0M to the Town of Ohio for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Town of Ohio for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$40K to the Town of Ohio for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$107K to the Town of Ohio for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$38K to the Town of Ohio for repairs
Show all 8
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$55K to the Town of Ohio for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$7K to the Town of Ohio for repairs
Herkimer County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Ohio after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ohio archive →Ohio and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Russia | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Webb | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Forestport | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Morehouse | — | 63 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Norway | — | 930 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.
Get ready for what Ohio faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Ohio
Does Ohio flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Ohio since 2011, $29K in all.
Is Ohio 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 Herkimer County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Ohio?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ohio’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 Ohio?
By FEMA money that reached Ohio, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $1.0M to the Town of Ohio for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ohio.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ohio’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.