Erie County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Erie County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 38th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $280 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (414 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.3 million on 1,103 claims here, including $2.6 million for floods in 1985.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Erie County
- 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.
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 71.8 | $13M | ||
| Tornado | 77.9 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 81.3 | $917K | ||
| Strong wind | 68.9 | $900K | ||
| Cold wave | 49.2 | $874K | ||
| Earthquake | 62.1 | $490K | ||
| Ice storm | 79.2 | $363K | ||
| Winter weather | 83.4 | $236K | ||
| Heat wave | 39.2 | $212K | ||
| Lightning | 45.2 | $187K | ||
| Hurricane | 49.9 | $70K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 47.0 | $61K | ||
| Wildfire | 23.0 | $9K | ||
| Landslide | 39.6 | $614 |
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 very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Erie County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
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 420 storm reports in Erie County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 38 injuries and about $52.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1953.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 1953 | F4 | – | 23 / 2 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 20, 2000 | F2 | Milan | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F1 | Kimball | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 1985 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2006 | Flood | Countywide | $30M |
| Jul 12, 1992 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 23, 2023 | Flash Flood | Huron | $3M |
| Jul 5, 2026 | Flash Flood | Kelleys Is | $3M |
| Jun 21, 2006 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $2M |
| Jun 5, 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sandusky | $2M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 Erie County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Erie County
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; 38,534 housing units.
Compare in Ohio
All 88 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | Inland flooding | |
| Cuyahoga County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| Summit County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Lucas County | Inland flooding | |
| Butler County | Inland flooding | |
| Stark County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Lorain County | 16 | |
| Sandusky County | 11 | |
| Huron County | 11 | |
| Ottawa County | 11 |
Common questions about Erie County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Erie County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Erie County, about $13.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Erie County had?
Erie County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.
Is Erie County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 38th 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 Erie County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Erie 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 Erie County had?
NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Erie County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1953. The weather service has also logged 108 hail reports and 36 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.