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Delaware County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
13th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$69Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Delaware County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 79% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $69 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $325 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (201 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $995,000 on 101 claims here.

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

Top risks in Delaware County

$49.3 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
$7.4 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.

Hail

Moderate
$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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 floodingModerate86.4
$49M
TornadoModerate81.5
$7M
HailModerate89.4
$3M
Heat waveLow76.6
$2M
Strong windModerate78.3
$2M
LightningModerate79.6
$1M
Ice stormHigh86.8
$1M
Cold waveLow40.9
$1M
EarthquakeLow66.2
$1M
Winter weatherHigh87.8
$603K
WildfireVery Low26.7
$21K
HurricaneVery Low27.3
$20K
LandslideVery Low47.2
$2K
DroughtVery Low14.4
$732

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 Delaware County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Tornado3
Snowstorm3
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 2, 2024TornadoesMajor disaster
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
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Show all 13
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 439 storm reports in Delaware County since 1958, with 4 deaths and 43 injuries and about $72.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 11, 1965.

14tornadoes
95hail reports, largest 2 inches
267damaging thunderstorm winds
56floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F2–35 / 4
Sep 20, 2000F2Harlem2 / 0
Mar 14, 2024EF1Stratford0 / 0
Apr 19, 1978F1–0 / 0
Mar 14, 2024EF1Ostrander0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 20, 2003HailPowell$65M
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$3M
Sep 20, 2000TornadoHarlem$1M
Mar 14, 2024TornadoStratford$1M
Jul 18, 1996LightningDelaware$620K
Jul 2, 1994Thunderstorm WindAshley$500K

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.

Flood insurance in Delaware County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (201 policies)
15.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$994,712paid on 101 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $325,782 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 Delaware County

$445,500median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
2000median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
20%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2%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; 86,269 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
Franklin CountyHigh19
Licking CountyLow19
Marion CountyLow10
Knox CountyLow10
Union CountyVery Low11
Morrow CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Delaware County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Delaware County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Delaware County, about $49.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $7.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Delaware County had?

Delaware County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Tornadoes in May 2024.

Is Delaware County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 13th 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 Delaware County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Delaware 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 Delaware County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Delaware County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 95 hail reports and 56 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.