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Hancock County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
47th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$31Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hancock County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $31 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $412 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (tornadoes). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (387 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $39 million on 2,049 claims here, including $27 million for floods in 2007.

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

Top risks in Hancock County

$18.8 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
$3.4 million 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 floodingLow65.4
$19M
TornadoModerate67.3
$4M
HailModerate91.6
$3M
Cold waveLow47.6
$1M
Strong windModerate53.2
$1M
EarthquakeLow60.6
$804K
Ice stormModerate77.6
$589K
LightningLow38.9
$265K
Heat waveVery Low29.6
$228K
Winter weatherModerate66.3
$195K
HurricaneVery Low39.6
$49K
WildfireVery Low1.9
$1K
LandslideVery Low24.4
$312

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 very 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 Hancock County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Tornado2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 2, 2024TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Aug 27, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 18, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1981Severe Storms, Flooding & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 12
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 416 storm reports in Hancock County since 1951, with 4 deaths and 18 injuries and about $235 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.

14tornadoes
101hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
259damaging thunderstorm winds
41floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–4 / 2
Nov 10, 2002F2Arcadia0 / 0
Apr 28, 1951F2–5 / 0
May 31, 2008EF2Arcadia6 / 0
Nov 10, 1975F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 21, 2007Flash FloodFindlay$105M
May 25, 2011HailFindlay$85M
Jul 13, 2017FloodFindlay Arpt$14M
Nov 10, 2002TornadoArcadia$11M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindMc Comb$5M
Apr 28, 1951Tornado–$3M

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 Hancock County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (387 policies)
17.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$38.6 millionpaid on 2,049 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $27.1 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 Hancock County

$204,700median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.6%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; 33,920 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
Wood CountyLow8
Allen CountyLow8
Seneca CountyLow11
Putnam CountyVery Low11
Hardin CountyVery Low10
Henry CountyVery Low8
Wyandot CountyVery Low10

Cities in Hancock County

Common questions about Hancock County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hancock County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hancock County, about $18.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4 million.

How many federal disasters has Hancock County had?

Hancock County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Tornadoes in May 2024.

Is Hancock County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 47th 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 Hancock County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Hancock 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 Hancock County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Hancock County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 101 hail reports and 41 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.