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Knox County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
41st of 88highest risk in Ohio
$19Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Knox County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $300 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2012 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (118 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $264,000 on 65 claims here.

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

Top risks in Knox County

$12.1 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.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow72.0
$12M
TornadoLow64.3
$2M
Strong windModerate81.9
$1M
Cold waveLow58.1
$1M
HailModerate85.5
$1M
Heat waveLow58.5
$463K
LightningModerate64.8
$347K
Ice stormModerate79.0
$320K
EarthquakeVery Low48.5
$217K
Winter weatherModerate77.8
$157K
HurricaneVery Low40.9
$27K
WildfireVery Low36.2
$17K
LandslideLow65.0
$3K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

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
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 372 storm reports in Knox County since 1957, with 1 death and 23 injuries and about $21.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 2, 1970.

14tornadoes
80hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
245damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1970F2–1 / 0
Jun 8, 1981F2–2 / 0
Mar 31, 1982F2–4 / 0
Apr 3, 1982F2–9 / 0
Jun 11, 1957F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 27, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$4M
Jun 27, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$4M
Jul 10, 2006Flash FloodNortheast Portion$4M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindWaterford$1M
Jun 7, 1995Thunderstorm WindMount Vernon$700K
May 21, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$600K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 Knox County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (118 policies)
10.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$263,679paid on 65 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $63,969 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 Knox County

$239,400median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4%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; 26,078 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
Delaware CountyLow13
Licking CountyLow19
Richland CountyLow16
Ashland CountyLow9
Holmes CountyLow10
Coshocton CountyLow14
Morrow CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Knox County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Knox County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Knox County, about $12.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Knox County had?

Knox County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in August 2012.

Is Knox County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 41st 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 Knox County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Knox 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 Knox County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Knox County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 2, 1970. The weather service has also logged 80 hail reports and 29 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.