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Licking County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
12th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$48Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Licking County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 79% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $48 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $267 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding and landslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (402 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.4 million on 400 claims here, including $2.6 million for floods in 2020.

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

Top risks in Licking County

$32.8 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.

Hail

High
$4.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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 floodingModerate86.0
$33M
HailHigh96.5
$4M
TornadoLow61.5
$2M
Strong windHigh86.8
$2M
Heat waveModerate79.4
$2M
LightningHigh84.6
$1M
Ice stormHigh85.9
$761K
EarthquakeLow65.9
$755K
Cold waveLow37.3
$704K
DroughtModerate66.1
$493K
Winter weatherHigh87.7
$405K
LandslideModerate91.5
$82K
WildfireVery Low42.5
$36K
HurricaneVery Low35.2
$25K

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 low 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 Licking County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Tornado3
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 2, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
May 2, 2024TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
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 19
Jan 26, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Aug 25, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 1985Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 1968Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 585 storm reports in Licking County since 1956, with 5 deaths and 37 injuries and about $138 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1985.

29tornadoes
122hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
344damaging thunderstorm winds
84floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1985F3–20 / 1
Sep 20, 2000F2Johnstown0 / 0
Aug 25, 1998F2Utica0 / 0
Nov 27, 1965F2–1 / 0
Feb 28, 2024EF2Jersey0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 4, 2006HailPataskala$100M
May 31, 1985Tornado–$25M
Jun 1, 1980Tornado–$3M
Jul 26, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Sep 20, 2000TornadoJohnstown$1M
Mar 20, 2020Flash FloodNewark Heath Arpt$900K

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.

Flood insurance in Licking County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (402 policies)
12.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.4 millionpaid on 400 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $2.6 million 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 Licking County

$275,200median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.8%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; 73,273 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
Franklin CountyHigh19
Delaware CountyLow13
Fairfield CountyLow11
Muskingum CountyLow16
Knox CountyLow10
Coshocton CountyLow14
Perry CountyVery Low18

Cities in Licking County

Common questions about Licking County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Licking County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Licking County, about $32.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $4.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Licking County had?

Licking County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides in October 2026.

Is Licking County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 12th 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 Licking County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Licking 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 Licking County had?

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Licking County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1985. The weather service has also logged 122 hail reports and 84 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.