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Defiance County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
63rd of 88highest risk in Ohio
$16Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Defiance County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 58% of US counties. It ranks 63rd of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $410 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Only 43 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.4 million on 330 claims here.

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

Top risks in Defiance County

$10.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$2.4 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
$729,996 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow59.4
$11M
TornadoLow63.7
$2M
Strong windModerate53.5
$730K
Cold waveLow31.6
$544K
HailLow64.9
$537K
EarthquakeVery Low52.6
$378K
Heat waveVery Low27.4
$138K
LightningLow31.3
$136K
Ice stormLow54.6
$125K
Winter weatherLow31.2
$37K
DroughtVery Low27.6
$21K
HurricaneVery Low27.0
$13K
WildfireVery Low6.9
$3K
LandslideVery Low40.9
$837

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Snowstorm2
Severe Storm2
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 26, 1982Severe 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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 231 storm reports in Defiance County since 1957 and about $4.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 12, 1986.

13tornadoes
63hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
142damaging thunderstorm winds
13floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 12, 1986F2–0 / 0
Aug 10, 1971F2–0 / 0
Aug 24, 2016EF2Mark Center0 / 0
Aug 24, 2016EF2Brunersburg0 / 0
Jul 29, 2023EF1Hicksville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 12, 1986Tornado–$3M
May 21, 2010Flash FloodHicksville$250K
May 25, 2011Flash FloodHicksville$250K
Aug 1, 2008Thunderstorm WindDefiance$125K
Jun 25, 2008Thunderstorm WindHicksville$110K
Jun 17, 2003Flash FloodDefiance$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 19, 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 Defiance County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (43 policies)
13.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.4 millionpaid on 330 flood claims since 1978
1982costliest year, with $652,640 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 Defiance County

$163,200median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.6%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; 16,565 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
Allen County, INModerate16
DeKalb County, INVery Low13
Williams CountyLow6
Putnam CountyVery Low11
Henry CountyVery Low8
Paulding CountyVery Low11

Common questions about Defiance County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Defiance County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Defiance County, about $10.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Defiance County had?

Defiance County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Defiance County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 63rd 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 Defiance County?

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

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Defiance County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 12, 1986. The weather service has also logged 63 hail reports and 13 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.