Allen County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 83.0 | $23M | ||
| Tornado | 74.3 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 83.2 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 81.1 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 79.2 | $834K | ||
| Cold wave | 39.0 | $633K | ||
| Heat wave | 51.9 | $409K | ||
| Ice storm | 78.3 | $356K | ||
| Lightning | 56.2 | $291K | ||
| Winter weather | 78.4 | $192K | ||
| Hurricane | 46.8 | $54K | ||
| Wildfire | 9.4 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 29.6 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1965 | F4 | – | 100 / 11 |
| Jul 19, 1950 | F3 | – | 30 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1971 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1980 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1965 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jul 19, 1950 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 22, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lima | $2M |
| Aug 22, 2007 | Flash Flood | Lima | $500K |
| Apr 8, 1980 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 8, 1980 | Tornado | – | $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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | Inland flooding | |
| Cuyahoga County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| Summit County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Lucas County | Inland flooding | |
| Butler County | Inland flooding | |
| Stark County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | 12 | |
| Auglaize County | 11 | |
| Putnam County | 11 | |
| Hardin County | 10 | |
| Van Wert County | 11 |
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.