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Holmes County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
42nd of 88highest risk in Ohio
$12Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Holmes 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 42nd of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $265 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 (61 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $652,000 on 120 claims here.

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

Top risks in Holmes County

$7.6 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
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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
$823,706 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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 floodingLow71.2
$8M
TornadoModerate66.7
$1M
HailModerate88.1
$824K
Strong windModerate67.3
$492K
Cold waveLow45.4
$436K
Heat waveLow58.6
$299K
Ice stormHigh82.8
$279K
LightningModerate68.8
$260K
Winter weatherModerate82.1
$126K
EarthquakeVery Low41.9
$93K
HurricaneVery Low52.0
$48K
WildfireVery Low46.9
$21K
LandslideLow82.9
$13K
DroughtVery Low29.1
$12K

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 high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm6
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

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
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 367 storm reports in Holmes County since 1962, with 0 deaths and 44 injuries and about $17.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 22, 2006 near Mt Hope.

12tornadoes
92hail reports, largest 2 inches
228damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 22, 2006F2Mt Hope0 / 0
May 10, 1973F2–1 / 0
Jun 8, 1981F2–5 / 0
Jun 7, 1980F1–1 / 0
Sep 16, 2010EF1Farmerstown0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 7, 1980Tornado–$3M
Aug 21, 2007Flash FloodMillersburg$2M
Jun 16, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Jul 10, 2006Flash FloodWest Portion$1M
Jun 24, 2014Flash FloodBig Prairie$875K
Jun 5, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$750K

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 Holmes County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (61 policies)
13.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$651,669paid on 120 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $168,754 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 Holmes County

$267,700median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.8%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; 14,561 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
Stark CountyModerate10
Wayne CountyLow8
Tuscarawas CountyLow11
Knox CountyLow10
Ashland CountyLow9
Coshocton CountyLow14

Common questions about Holmes County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Holmes County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Holmes County, about $7.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Holmes County had?

Holmes 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 Holmes County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 42nd 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 Holmes County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Holmes 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 Holmes County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Holmes County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 22, 2006 near Mt Hope. The weather service has also logged 92 hail reports and 33 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.