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Carroll County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
83rd of 88highest risk in Ohio
$6Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Carroll County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 83rd of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $6.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $240 per resident. Since 1977 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 (58 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $614,000 on 31 claims here.

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

Top risks in Carroll County

$4.7 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.
$395,940 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.

Lightning

Moderate
$295,373 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 42 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow42.8
$5M
TornadoLow28.0
$396K
LightningModerate60.1
$295K
HailLow54.0
$275K
Strong windLow27.4
$233K
Heat waveVery Low34.2
$151K
DroughtLow45.0
$89K
Cold waveVery Low11.4
$85K
EarthquakeVery Low27.0
$49K
Ice stormLow31.6
$31K
Winter weatherLow25.1
$21K
HurricaneVery Low36.2
$20K
LandslideLow80.3
$14K
WildfireVery Low24.7
$9K

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Carroll 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
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High WindsMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 393 storm reports in Carroll County since 1954, with 1 death and 15 injuries and about $5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 30, 1954.

11tornadoes
66hail reports, largest 3 inches
257damaging thunderstorm winds
54floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 30, 1954F2–3 / 1
Jul 29, 2021EF2Watheys0 / 0
Jun 6, 1980F1–2 / 0
May 25, 2019EF1Carrollton0 / 0
Jun 2, 2010EF1Scroggsfield0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 29, 2021TornadoWatheys$510K
Jul 20, 1994Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Jun 6, 1980Tornado–$250K
May 17, 2024TornadoNew Hagerstown$250K
Apr 9, 2015Flash FloodPalermo$150K
Jun 14, 2005Thunderstorm WindAmsterdam$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 1979, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Carroll County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 45 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph63 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 Carroll County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (58 policies)
12.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$613,661paid on 31 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $592,806 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 Carroll County

$183,100median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.9%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; 13,390 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
Stark CountyModerate10
Columbiana CountyLow16
Tuscarawas CountyLow11
Jefferson CountyLow20
Harrison CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Carroll County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Carroll County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Carroll County, about $4.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $395,940.

How many federal disasters has Carroll County had?

Carroll County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Carroll County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 83rd 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 Carroll County?

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

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Carroll County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 30, 1954. The weather service has also logged 66 hail reports and 54 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Carroll County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Carroll County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with winds near 45 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.