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Hocking County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
55th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$14Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hocking County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 55th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $504 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2019 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslide). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (115 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.2 million on 157 claims here, including $841,000 for floods in 2018.

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

Top risks in Hocking County

$11.7 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.
$599,275 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.

Lightning

Moderate
$493,744 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 46 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow68.8
$12M
TornadoLow33.8
$599K
LightningModerate71.4
$494K
Heat waveLow48.3
$325K
Strong windLow26.3
$236K
HailLow47.4
$222K
Ice stormModerate68.4
$191K
Cold waveVery Low14.8
$142K
EarthquakeVery Low34.6
$102K
Winter weatherLow37.8
$40K
LandslideLow86.5
$35K
DroughtLow32.5
$31K
WildfireVery Low12.7
$4K
HurricaneVery Low15.4
$4K

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Tornado1

Most recent

Jun 18, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Show all 16
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1996FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor 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 310 storm reports in Hocking County since 1968, with 1 death and 11 injuries and about $4.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 28, 2019 near South Perry.

6tornadoes
39hail reports, largest 2 inches
166damaging thunderstorm winds
97floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 28, 2019EF2South Perry0 / 0
Jun 8, 2022EF2Haynes0 / 0
Jul 12, 1980F1–0 / 0
Sep 16, 2010EF1Buena Vista0 / 0
Aug 7, 1968F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 28, 2019TornadoSouth Perry$2M
Mar 2, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Aug 17, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Jun 21, 2018Flash FloodHaydenville$500K
May 4, 2012Flash FloodUnion Furnace$100K
Mar 1, 2017Thunderstorm WindLaurelville$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Hocking County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 43 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph43 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph43 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 Hocking County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (115 policies)
10%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.2 millionpaid on 157 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $840,662 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 Hocking County

$186,400median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.7%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; 13,013 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
Fairfield CountyLow11
Ross CountyLow14
Athens CountyLow17
Pickaway CountyLow13
Perry CountyVery Low18
Vinton CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Hocking County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hocking County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hocking County, about $11.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $599,275.

How many federal disasters has Hocking County had?

Hocking County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide in June 2019.

Is Hocking County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 55th 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 Hocking County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Hocking 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 Hocking County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Hocking County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 28, 2019 near South Perry. The weather service has also logged 39 hail reports and 97 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hocking County?

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