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Gallia County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
54th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$12Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gallia County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 54th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $396 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2019 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (124 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.6 million on 176 claims here.

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

Top risks in Gallia County

$8.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Tornado

Very Low
$293,788 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow67.6
$9M
Heat waveModerate84.4
$1M
TornadoVery Low26.1
$294K
Strong windLow26.3
$188K
EarthquakeVery Low43.3
$140K
Ice stormModerate66.8
$138K
LightningLow43.4
$138K
Cold waveVery Low13.1
$92K
HailVery Low25.4
$71K
HurricaneVery Low47.9
$45K
Winter weatherLow44.4
$40K
LandslideModerate87.5
$31K
DroughtLow31.6
$23K
WildfireVery Low34.8
$14K

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 high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood5
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 8, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 7, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jun 24, 1996FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 1968Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1968

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 327 storm reports in Gallia County since 1968, with 2 deaths and 21 injuries and about $18.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 23, 1968.

8tornadoes
82hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
131damaging thunderstorm winds
99floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1968F5–17 / 0
May 8, 2002F2Adamsville3 / 0
Jun 15, 2000F2Patriot0 / 0
Jun 2, 1980F1–0 / 0
Jun 12, 1989F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 8, 2002TornadoAdamsville$4M
Jun 2, 1980Tornado–$3M
Jun 12, 1989Tornado–$3M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindThurman$3M
Jul 14, 2015Flash FloodCrown City$1M
Jun 23, 1996Flash FloodSouthern Portion$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Gallia County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 47 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph47 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph47 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Gallia County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (124 policies)
10.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.6 millionpaid on 176 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $311,222 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 Gallia County

$155,600median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
21.4%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; 13,464 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
Cabell County, WVModerate29
Lawrence CountyLow14
Jackson CountyVery Low14
Mason County, WVLow19
Meigs CountyLow16
Vinton CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Gallia County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gallia County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gallia County, about $8.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Gallia County had?

Gallia County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in April 2019.

Is Gallia County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 54th 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 Gallia County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Gallia 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 Gallia County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Gallia County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 23, 1968. The weather service has also logged 82 hail reports and 99 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Gallia County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Gallia County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 50 mph.

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.