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Hardin County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
79th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$11Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hardin County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 79th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $344 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2012 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (61 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $328,000 on 17 claims here.

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

Top risks in Hardin County

$6.2 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.
$981,162 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$930,050 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow40.2
$6M
Cold waveLow44.4
$981K
TornadoLow36.3
$930K
Strong windModerate55.8
$820K
LightningModerate65.1
$524K
HailLow58.9
$462K
EarthquakeVery Low48.9
$327K
Heat waveVery Low23.5
$108K
Ice stormLow45.2
$86K
Winter weatherLow48.6
$77K
HurricaneVery Low43.6
$52K
WildfireVery Low1.3
$644
LandslideVery Low26.4
$283

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm4
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Apr 24, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Aug 27, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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 244 storm reports in Hardin County since 1959, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on December 11, 2021 near Alger.

11tornadoes
51hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
136damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 11, 2021EF1Alger0 / 0
Mar 10, 1986F1–0 / 0
Feb 15, 1992F1–0 / 0
Aug 12, 2023EF1Kenton0 / 0
Mar 26, 2026EF1Kenton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 11, 2021TornadoAlger$300K
Mar 10, 1986Tornado–$250K
Feb 15, 1992Tornado–$250K
Aug 12, 2023TornadoKenton$250K
Nov 17, 2013Thunderstorm WindHepburn$200K
Mar 26, 2026TornadoKenton$65K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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 Hardin County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (61 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$327,516paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $153,210 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 Hardin County

$151,200median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11%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; 12,917 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
Allen CountyLow8
Hancock CountyLow12
Marion CountyLow10
Union CountyVery Low11
Auglaize CountyVery Low11
Logan CountyLow12
Wyandot CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Hardin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hardin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hardin County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $981,162.

How many federal disasters has Hardin County had?

Hardin County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in August 2012.

Is Hardin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 79th 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 Hardin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Hardin 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 Hardin County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Hardin County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on December 11, 2021 near Alger. The weather service has also logged 51 hail reports and 43 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.