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Allen County, Ohio

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
20th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$32Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Allen County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 73% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $312 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2012 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (163 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.1 million on 259 claims here, including $1.2 million for floods in 2015.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Allen County

$22.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Tornado

Moderate
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 540 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate83.0
$23M
TornadoModerate74.3
$3M
EarthquakeLow83.2
$2M
Strong windModerate81.1
$1M
HailModerate79.2
$834K
Cold waveLow39.0
$633K
Heat waveLow51.9
$409K
Ice stormModerate78.3
$356K
LightningLow56.2
$291K
Winter weatherModerate78.4
$192K
HurricaneVery Low46.8
$54K
WildfireVery Low9.4
$3K
LandslideVery Low29.6
$297

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Allen County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Aug 27, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

Ohio also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 289 storm reports in Allen County since 1950, with 11 deaths and 135 injuries and about $9.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.

23tornadoes
64hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
187damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–100 / 11
Jul 19, 1950F3–30 / 0
Jun 2, 1971F3–0 / 0
Apr 8, 1980F1–1 / 0
Apr 8, 1980F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$3M
Jul 19, 1950Tornado–$3M
Jun 22, 2006Thunderstorm WindLima$2M
Aug 22, 2007Flash FloodLima$500K
Apr 8, 1980Tornado–$250K
Apr 8, 1980Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Allen County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (163 policies)
17.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.1 millionpaid on 259 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $1.2 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Allen County

$165,300median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.3%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 44,791 housing units.

Compare in Ohio

All 88 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Franklin CountyHighInland flooding
Cuyahoga CountyHighInland flooding
Hamilton CountyHighInland flooding
Summit CountyModerateInland flooding
Montgomery CountyModerateInland flooding
Lucas CountyModerateInland flooding
Butler CountyModerateInland flooding
Stark CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Hancock CountyLow12
Auglaize CountyVery Low11
Putnam CountyVery Low11
Hardin CountyVery Low10
Van Wert CountyVery Low11

Cities in Allen County

Common questions about Allen County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Allen County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Allen County, about $22.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Allen County had?

Allen County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in August 2012.

Is Allen County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 20th highest of 88 in Ohio. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Allen County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Allen County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Allen County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Allen County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 64 hail reports and 11 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.