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Clark County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
17th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$33Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clark County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 77% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $33 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $240 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 9 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 (275 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.3 million on 136 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 2014.

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

Top risks in Clark County

$21.5 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
$3.9 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate84.2
$22M
TornadoModerate82.3
$4M
Cold waveModerate67.1
$2M
EarthquakeLow78.8
$1M
Strong windModerate81.5
$1M
HailModerate82.2
$881K
Ice stormHigh87.4
$645K
LightningModerate78.2
$591K
Heat waveLow63.2
$590K
Winter weatherModerate82.0
$202K
DroughtLow53.4
$164K
HurricaneVery Low40.0
$26K
WildfireVery Low25.0
$9K
LandslideVery Low50.1
$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 Clark County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
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
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 489 storm reports in Clark County since 1962, with 1 death and 21 injuries and about $7.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974.

33tornadoes
87hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
281damaging thunderstorm winds
78floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F5–0 / 0
May 10, 1973F3–4 / 0
Feb 28, 2024EF2Pitchin3 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F2–0 / 0
Jun 8, 2022EF1North Hampton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$3M
Feb 28, 2024TornadoPitchin$1M
Jun 8, 2022TornadoNorth Hampton$500K
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$250K
Apr 20, 1986Tornado–$250K
May 24, 2017TornadoPark Layne$250K

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

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (275 policies)
22.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.3 millionpaid on 136 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $2.4 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 Clark County

$169,900median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
77%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.6%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; 61,126 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
Montgomery CountyModerate11
Greene CountyLow14
Miami CountyLow13
Madison CountyVery Low10
Champaign CountyVery Low9

Cities in Clark County

Common questions about Clark County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clark County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clark County, about $21.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Clark County had?

Clark County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in August 2012.

Is Clark County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 17th 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 Clark County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Clark 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 Clark County had?

NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in Clark County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 87 hail reports and 78 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.