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Geauga County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
43rd of 88highest risk in Ohio
$20Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Geauga County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $207 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (89 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 73 claims here.

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

Top risks in Geauga County

$14 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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 floodingModerate73.3
$14M
Strong windHigh87.2
$2M
TornadoLow59.6
$2M
HailModerate74.0
$618K
Winter weatherHigh92.9
$476K
Heat waveLow55.0
$439K
Cold waveVery Low23.7
$272K
LightningLow52.3
$234K
Ice stormModerate71.7
$223K
EarthquakeVery Low46.2
$209K
HurricaneVery Low44.4
$40K
WildfireVery Low42.3
$28K
LandslideVery Low34.5
$401

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 Geauga County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Apr 24, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Aug 1, 2006Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 4, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1989Severe 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 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 438 storm reports in Geauga County since 1959, with 1 death and 24 injuries and about $23.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on October 6, 1959.

18tornadoes
109hail reports, largest 2 inches
276damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 6, 1959F2–0 / 0
Jun 22, 1985F2–0 / 0
Aug 24, 2023EF2Burton Station0 / 0
Aug 24, 2011EF1Scotland0 / 0
Sep 20, 2018EF1Middlefield0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 28, 1994Thunderstorm Wind–$5M
Jul 28, 2006Flash FloodNorth Portion$5M
May 31, 2010Flash FloodChardon$5M
May 29, 1995TornadoMiddlefield$1M
Nov 5, 2017Thunderstorm WindBainbridge$800K
Jul 21, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Geauga County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (89 policies)
30.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 73 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $417,414 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 Geauga County

$331,100median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.6%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; 37,716 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
Cuyahoga CountyHigh16
Summit CountyModerate11
Lake CountyLow12
Trumbull CountyModerate9
Portage CountyLow9
Ashtabula CountyLow12

Common questions about Geauga County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Geauga County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Geauga County, about $14 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Geauga County had?

Geauga County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Geauga County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 43rd 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 Geauga County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Geauga 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 Geauga County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Geauga County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on October 6, 1959. The weather service has also logged 109 hail reports and 27 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.