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Jackson County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
66th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$8Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$5.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$742,169 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$458,475 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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 floodingLow57.2
$6M
Heat waveLow72.8
$742K
TornadoLow33.9
$458K
Strong windLow30.0
$210K
LightningLow53.0
$188K
EarthquakeVery Low45.5
$153K
Ice stormModerate68.2
$143K
Cold waveVery Low13.9
$97K
HailVery Low31.5
$92K
HurricaneVery Low49.4
$50K
LandslideLow85.9
$24K
Winter weatherLow28.0
$19K
DroughtVery Low29.0
$15K
WildfireVery Low20.4
$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

Severe Storm9
Flood3
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 8, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 7, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 14
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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 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.

6tornadoes
62hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
141damaging thunderstorm winds
53floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 2024EF2Leo0 / 0
Jun 2, 1980F1–0 / 0
May 26, 2024EF1Jackson0 / 0
Jul 26, 1992F0–0 / 0
Jun 27, 2018EF0Evans Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 10, 2011Flash FloodRay$8M
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$4M
Jun 2, 1980Tornado–$3M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindJackson$2M
Jul 13, 2015Flash FloodWellington$800K
Jul 21, 1994Thunderstorm WindWellston$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.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph38 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph53 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph38 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (58 policies)
10.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3 millionpaid on 193 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $894,833 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 Jackson County

$150,700median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19%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; 14,548 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
Ross CountyLow14
Scioto CountyLow16
Lawrence CountyLow14
Gallia CountyLow15
Pike CountyLow15
Vinton CountyVery Low14

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.