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Harrison County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
88th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$4Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Harrison County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 88th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $280 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2018 (severe storms, landslides and mudslides). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $490,000 on 90 claims here.

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

Top risks in Harrison County

$2.5 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$714,154 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$226,262 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low27.3
$2M
Strong windModerate67.9
$714K
DroughtLow60.3
$226K
TornadoVery Low18.2
$163K
HailLow38.6
$133K
LightningLow37.8
$117K
Heat waveVery Low26.8
$87K
Cold waveVery Low7.8
$40K
EarthquakeVery Low23.8
$31K
LandslideLow83.2
$19K
HurricaneVery Low34.8
$16K
Ice stormVery Low21.6
$14K
Winter weatherVery Low14.1
$9K
WildfireVery Low17.0
$5K

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Tornado2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 271 storm reports in Harrison County since 1962, with 5 deaths and 15 injuries and about $7.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 8, 1969.

4tornadoes
45hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
171damaging thunderstorm winds
50floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 8, 1969F3–14 / 1
Jul 29, 2021EF2New Athens0 / 0
May 23, 2000F2Scio0 / 0
Apr 12, 1965F1–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$5M
May 8, 1969Tornado–$250K
Jul 29, 2021TornadoNew Athens$200K
Mar 20, 2020Flash FloodUnionvale$100K
May 23, 2000TornadoScio$100K
Jun 15, 2004Flash FloodBowerston$100K

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.

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 Harrison County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 62 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph40 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph40 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 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 Harrison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (29 policies)
12.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$490,235paid on 90 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $227,681 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 Harrison County

$121,500median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.1%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; 7,383 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
Tuscarawas CountyLow11
Belmont CountyLow20
Jefferson CountyLow20
Guernsey CountyVery Low15
Carroll CountyVery Low9

Common questions about Harrison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Harrison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Harrison County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $714,154.

How many federal disasters has Harrison County had?

Harrison County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2018.

Is Harrison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 88th 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 Harrison County?

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

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Harrison County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 8, 1969. The weather service has also logged 45 hail reports and 50 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Harrison County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Harrison 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.