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Ashland County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
57th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$15Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Ashland County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 57th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $280 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (81 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $762,000 on 58 claims here.

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

Top risks in Ashland County

$9.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Hail

Moderate
$904,183 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow60.2
$9M
TornadoLow57.3
$2M
HailModerate80.5
$904K
Strong windModerate66.8
$884K
Cold waveLow41.9
$705K
Ice stormModerate80.1
$413K
Heat waveLow49.4
$362K
LightningLow56.5
$295K
EarthquakeVery Low43.9
$194K
Winter weatherModerate78.0
$190K
HurricaneVery Low43.8
$42K
WildfireVery Low30.0
$14K
LandslideVery Low50.0
$1K

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 Ashland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 18, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 428 storm reports in Ashland County since 1959, with 1 death and 20 injuries and about $28.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Polk.

20tornadoes
126hail reports, largest 2.25 inches
231damaging thunderstorm winds
47floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 10, 2002F2Polk0 / 0
May 10, 1973F2–6 / 0
Apr 2, 1977F1–6 / 0
Aug 6, 2000F1Ashland4 / 0
Aug 9, 2007EF1Sullivan0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 10, 2006Flash FloodSouth Portion$6M
Aug 21, 2007Flash FloodSavannah$4M
Apr 2, 1977Tornado–$3M
Aug 6, 2000TornadoAshland$2M
Nov 10, 2002TornadoPolk$2M
Aug 9, 2007TornadoSullivan$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Ashland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (81 policies)
25.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$761,659paid on 58 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $337,816 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 Ashland County

$186,800median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.6%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; 22,568 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
Lorain CountyModerate16
Medina CountyLow12
Richland CountyLow16
Wayne CountyLow8
Knox CountyLow10
Huron CountyLow11
Holmes CountyLow10

Common questions about Ashland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ashland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ashland County, about $9.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Ashland County had?

Ashland County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Ashland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 57th 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 Ashland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Ashland 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 Ashland County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Ashland County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Polk. The weather service has also logged 126 hail reports and 47 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.