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Fulton County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
70th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$12Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fulton County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 70th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $291 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (53 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $166,000 on 34 claims here.

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

Top risks in Fulton County

$5.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Drought

Moderate
$826,011 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow41.7
$6M
TornadoModerate66.9
$3M
DroughtModerate75.5
$826K
Cold waveLow40.3
$770K
Strong windModerate53.8
$710K
HailLow65.0
$521K
EarthquakeVery Low58.7
$487K
Heat waveVery Low35.0
$207K
Ice stormModerate61.9
$169K
LightningVery Low20.6
$82K
Winter weatherLow43.4
$60K
HurricaneVery Low28.7
$15K
WildfireVery Low8.1
$3K
LandslideVery Low25.7
$235

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 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 Fulton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm3
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 4, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 26, 1982Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 257 storm reports in Fulton County since 1954, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $10.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 12, 1992.

13tornadoes
59hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
169damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 12, 1992F2–8 / 0
Jun 5, 2010EF2South Delta0 / 0
Jun 7, 1980F1–0 / 0
May 25, 1989F1–0 / 0
Apr 23, 1968F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 24, 1998HailArchbold$3M
Jun 7, 1980Tornado–$3M
Jul 12, 1992Tornado–$3M
Aug 24, 1998Flash FloodArchbold$1M
Jun 5, 2010TornadoSouth Delta$500K
May 25, 1989Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 Fulton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (53 policies)
30.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$165,845paid on 34 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $39,862 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 Fulton County

$191,000median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.2%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; 17,739 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
Lucas CountyModerate13
Lenawee County, MILow4
Hillsdale County, MILow6
Williams CountyLow6
Henry CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Fulton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fulton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fulton County, about $5.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Fulton County had?

Fulton County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Fulton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 70th 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 Fulton County?

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

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Fulton County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 12, 1992. The weather service has also logged 59 hail reports and 14 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.