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Ashtabula County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
35th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$19Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Ashtabula County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 63% of US counties. It ranks 35th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $200 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2013 (severe storms and flooding due to the remnants of hurricane sandy). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (65 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.0 million on 146 claims here, including $878,000 for floods in 2006.

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

Top risks in Ashtabula County

$12.4 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow72.6
$12M
TornadoModerate78.8
$3M
Strong windHigh87.2
$1M
HailLow69.2
$458K
Cold waveLow34.4
$439K
Heat waveLow51.0
$332K
Winter weatherHigh88.7
$319K
LightningModerate62.6
$315K
EarthquakeVery Low54.7
$303K
Ice stormModerate68.8
$176K
HurricaneVery Low52.3
$77K
WildfireVery Low36.1
$17K
Coastal floodingVery Low28.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low22.0
$123

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 high 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 Ashtabula County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3
Tornado2
Flood2
Hurricane2

Most recent

Jan 3, 2013Severe Storms and Flooding Due to The Remnants of Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Apr 24, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Aug 1, 2006Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 1985Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Jul 19, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 503 storm reports in Ashtabula County since 1956, with 2 deaths and 35 injuries and about $56.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985.

16tornadoes
108hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
321damaging thunderstorm winds
44floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1985F4–0 / 0
May 31, 1985F3–10 / 0
May 31, 1985F2–15 / 0
Nov 5, 2017EF2Wick0 / 0
Jul 8, 1956F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 28, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$14M
Feb 1, 2020FloodSullivan$10M
Jul 22, 2006Flash FloodNorth Portion$8M
Mar 1, 2020FloodConneaut Harbor$5M
May 31, 1985Tornado–$3M
May 31, 1985Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1955, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Ashtabula County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 50 mph about 58 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1955most recent: Connie

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Ashtabula County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (65 policies)
14.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2 millionpaid on 146 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $877,838 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 Ashtabula County

$159,500median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
72%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.1%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; 46,477 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
Erie County, PAModerate9
Lake CountyLow12
Trumbull CountyModerate9
Geauga CountyLow10
Crawford County, PALow13

Common questions about Ashtabula County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ashtabula County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ashtabula County, about $12.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Ashtabula County had?

Ashtabula County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding Due to The Remnants of Hurricane Sandy in January 2013.

Is Ashtabula County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 35th 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 Ashtabula County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Ashtabula 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 Ashtabula County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Ashtabula County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 31, 1985. The weather service has also logged 108 hail reports and 44 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Ashtabula County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Ashtabula County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with winds near 50 mph.

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.