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Clermont County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
14th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$47Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clermont County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 78% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $47 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $223 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding and landslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (270 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $10 million on 623 claims here, including $6.5 million for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Clermont County

$25.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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
$5.9 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
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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 floodingModerate81.3
$26M
TornadoModerate83.6
$6M
Cold waveModerate81.9
$5M
Heat waveModerate86.7
$3M
Strong windHigh88.1
$2M
EarthquakeLow78.4
$2M
LightningHigh89.2
$1M
Ice stormHigh88.2
$958K
HailLow56.4
$408K
Winter weatherModerate81.4
$275K
DroughtLow37.3
$64K
WildfireVery Low41.4
$35K
LandslideLow82.8
$28K
HurricaneVery Low20.9
$8K

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 very low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Clermont County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood4
Snowstorm3
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 2, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 17
Jun 24, 1996FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 1968Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 650 storm reports in Clermont County since 1953, with 6 deaths and 59 injuries and about $24.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 23, 1968.

27tornadoes
119hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
372damaging thunderstorm winds
124floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1968F4–29 / 1
Mar 2, 2012EF3Moscow13 / 3
Jul 2, 1997F3Moscow0 / 0
Aug 9, 1969F3–7 / 0
Jul 6, 2022EF2Goshen2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 2, 2012TornadoMoscow$6M
Jul 6, 2022TornadoGoshen$3M
Apr 23, 1968Tornado–$3M
Apr 19, 2002HailMilford$3M
Jul 2, 1997TornadoMoscow$2M
Jul 17, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 1888, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Clermont County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 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 Clermont County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (270 policies)
16.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$10.2 millionpaid on 623 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $6.5 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 Clermont County

$266,200median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.9%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; 88,470 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
Hamilton CountyHigh17
Warren CountyLow11
Campbell County, KYLow15
Brown CountyLow17
Clinton CountyVery Low8
Pendleton County, KYVery Low20
Bracken County, KYVery Low16

Common questions about Clermont County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clermont County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clermont County, about $25.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $5.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Clermont County had?

Clermont County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides in October 2026.

Is Clermont County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 14th 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 Clermont County?

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

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Clermont County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 23, 1968. The weather service has also logged 119 hail reports and 124 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Clermont County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Clermont County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, 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.