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Columbiana County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
25th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$25Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Columbiana County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 69% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $25 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $246 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2019 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslide). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (90 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $883,000 on 116 claims here.

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

Top risks in Columbiana County

$19.4 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
$2.3 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.2
$19M
TornadoModerate70.0
$2M
HailModerate84.3
$1M
Strong windModerate54.5
$558K
LightningModerate74.7
$528K
Heat waveLow60.5
$527K
HurricaneLow59.5
$175K
Ice stormModerate67.3
$169K
Cold waveVery Low17.8
$168K
EarthquakeVery Low42.5
$157K
Winter weatherModerate67.0
$105K
WildfireVery Low46.8
$34K
LandslideLow75.5
$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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood3
Tornado3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 18, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
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
Jul 15, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Aug 4, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 1985Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 23, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 632 storm reports in Columbiana County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 30 injuries and about $41.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 12, 1978.

22tornadoes
138hail reports, largest 3 inches
402damaging thunderstorm winds
67floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 12, 1978F3–4 / 0
May 31, 1985F2–20 / 0
Mar 11, 1955F2–0 / 0
Jul 24, 1967F2–2 / 0
Sep 21, 1992F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 31, 1985Tornado–$25M
Aug 27, 2004Flash FloodWinona$3M
Oct 12, 1978Tornado–$3M
Sep 25, 1994HailN Portion$1M
Oct 6, 2024Thunderstorm WindEast Rochester$1M
Oct 6, 2024Thunderstorm WindWinona$1M

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 1979, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Columbiana County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 40 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph62 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 Columbiana County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (90 policies)
15.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$882,664paid on 116 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $478,795 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 Columbiana County

$151,600median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
71%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.7%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; 46,121 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
Mahoning CountyModerate10
Beaver County, PALow13
Lawrence County, PALow10
Jefferson CountyLow20
Hancock County, WVVery Low16
Carroll CountyVery Low9

Common questions about Columbiana County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Columbiana County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Columbiana County, about $19.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Columbiana County had?

Columbiana County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide in June 2019.

Is Columbiana County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 25th 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 Columbiana County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Columbiana 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 Columbiana County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Columbiana County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 12, 1978. The weather service has also logged 138 hail reports and 67 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Columbiana County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Columbiana County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with winds near 40 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.