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Clinton County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
68th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$12Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clinton County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 68th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $277 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (68 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $206,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Clinton County

$6 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 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$831,611 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 floodingLow44.7
$6M
TornadoLow55.5
$2M
Strong windModerate62.3
$832K
EarthquakeLow65.4
$661K
Cold waveLow38.2
$656K
Heat waveLow59.8
$607K
DroughtModerate67.5
$476K
LightningLow51.2
$259K
Ice stormModerate71.3
$251K
HailLow36.6
$168K
Winter weatherLow46.9
$62K
HurricaneVery Low35.3
$23K
WildfireVery Low8.9
$3K
LandslideVery Low50.5
$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 low 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 Clinton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm3
Severe Storm3
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & 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 548 storm reports in Clinton County since 1956, with 3 deaths and 20 injuries and about $12.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 23, 1968.

33tornadoes
118hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
332damaging thunderstorm winds
60floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1968F4–3 / 0
May 10, 1969F3–0 / 0
Apr 25, 1961F2–4 / 2
Mar 10, 1986F2–10 / 0
Sep 14, 1990F2–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 23, 1968Tornado–$3M
Mar 10, 1986Tornado–$3M
Sep 14, 1990Tornado–$3M
Apr 9, 1999Thunderstorm WindClarksville$1M
Apr 15, 1994Thunderstorm WindCountywide$500K
Apr 25, 1961Tornado–$250K

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.

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 Clinton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 64 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 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 Clinton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (68 policies)
16.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$206,055paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $113,351 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 Clinton County

$211,900median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.5%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; 18,039 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
Warren CountyLow11
Clermont CountyLow17
Greene CountyLow14
Brown CountyLow17
Highland CountyLow10
Fayette CountyVery Low9

Common questions about Clinton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clinton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clinton County, about $6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Clinton County had?

Clinton County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Clinton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 68th 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 Clinton County?

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

NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in Clinton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 23, 1968. The weather service has also logged 118 hail reports and 60 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Clinton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Clinton 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.