Jackson County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Jackson County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $8.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $249 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2019 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (58 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.0 million on 193 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Jackson County
- 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 57.2 | $6M | ||
| Heat wave | 72.8 | $742K | ||
| Tornado | 33.9 | $458K | ||
| Strong wind | 30.0 | $210K | ||
| Lightning | 53.0 | $188K | ||
| Earthquake | 45.5 | $153K | ||
| Ice storm | 68.2 | $143K | ||
| Cold wave | 13.9 | $97K | ||
| Hail | 31.5 | $92K | ||
| Hurricane | 49.4 | $50K | ||
| Landslide | 85.9 | $24K | ||
| Winter weather | 28.0 | $19K | ||
| Drought | 29.0 | $15K | ||
| Wildfire | 20.4 | $6K |
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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Jackson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Ohio also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1965
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 266 storm reports in Jackson County since 1965, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $20.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on April 2, 2024 near Leo.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2024 | EF2 | Leo | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 2024 | EF1 | Jackson | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 26, 1992 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 2018 | EF0 | Evans Arpt | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2011 | Flash Flood | Ray | $8M |
| Mar 1, 1997 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $4M |
| Jun 2, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jackson | $2M |
| Jul 13, 2015 | Flash Flood | Wellington | $800K |
| Jul 21, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wellston | $500K |
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 Jackson County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 38 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 38 mi |
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 53 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 53 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 38 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 Jackson County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Jackson County
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; 14,548 housing units.
Compare in Ohio
All 88 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | Inland flooding | |
| Cuyahoga County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| Summit County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Lucas County | Inland flooding | |
| Butler County | Inland flooding | |
| Stark County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Ross County | 14 | |
| Scioto County | 16 | |
| Lawrence County | 14 | |
| Gallia County | 15 | |
| Pike County | 15 | |
| Vinton County | 14 |
Common questions about Jackson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Jackson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jackson County, about $5.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $742,169.
How many federal disasters has Jackson County had?
Jackson County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in April 2019.
Is Jackson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th 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 Jackson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Jackson 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 Jackson County had?
NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Jackson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on April 2, 2024 near Leo. The weather service has also logged 62 hail reports and 53 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Jackson County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Jackson 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.