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Erie County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
38th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$21Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$13.4 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
$3.4 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
$916,573 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 floodingLow71.8
$13M
TornadoModerate77.9
$3M
HailModerate81.3
$917K
Strong windModerate68.9
$900K
Cold waveLow49.2
$874K
EarthquakeLow62.1
$490K
Ice stormModerate79.2
$363K
Winter weatherModerate83.4
$236K
Heat waveLow39.2
$212K
LightningLow45.2
$187K
HurricaneVery Low49.9
$70K
Coastal floodingLow47.0
$61K
WildfireVery Low23.0
$9K
LandslideVery Low39.6
$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

Severe Storm5
Flood2
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 2, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 25, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 4, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 24, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

15tornadoes
108hail reports, largest 2 inches
238damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 8, 1953F4–23 / 2
Jul 12, 1992F2–0 / 0
Sep 20, 2000F2Milan0 / 0
Nov 10, 2002F1Kimball0 / 0
Mar 28, 1985F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 22, 2006FloodCountywide$30M
Jul 12, 1992Tornado–$3M
Aug 23, 2023Flash FloodHuron$3M
Jul 5, 2026Flash FloodKelleys Is$3M
Jun 21, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Jun 5, 2016Thunderstorm WindSandusky$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 ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (414 policies)
18.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8.3 millionpaid on 1,103 flood claims since 1978
1985costliest year, with $2.6 million 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 Erie County

$199,700median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.1%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; 38,534 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
Lorain CountyModerate16
Sandusky CountyLow11
Huron CountyLow11
Ottawa CountyLow11

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.