Lorain County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Lorain County, Ohio has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $66 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $211 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (627 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.1 million on 538 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Lorain 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.
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 90.2 | $43M | ||
| Tornado | 90.9 | $8M | ||
| Cold wave | 85.1 | $6M | ||
| Strong wind | 92.7 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 91.3 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 92.5 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 74.6 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 64.1 | $763K | ||
| Lightning | 77.2 | $698K | ||
| Winter weather | 90.5 | $452K | ||
| Hurricane | 50.6 | $83K | ||
| Wildfire | 45.9 | $40K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 31.8 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 41.6 | $796 |
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 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 Lorain County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Ohio also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 787 storm reports in Lorain County since 1953, with 21 deaths and 168 injuries and about $115 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1965 | F4 | – | 100 / 17 |
| Jun 8, 1953 | F4 | – | 47 / 1 |
| Aug 26, 1986 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Jul 13, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1965 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 12, 2014 | Flash Flood | Shawville | $25M |
| May 21, 2004 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $12M |
| Jun 22, 2006 | Flood | Countywide | $10M |
| Jun 23, 2015 | Flash Flood | Avon Lake | $4M |
| Aug 23, 2023 | Flash Flood | Amherst | $3M |
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 Lorain 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 Lorain 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; 136,548 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga County | 16 | |
| Medina County | 12 | |
| Erie County | 11 | |
| Huron County | 11 | |
| Ashland County | 9 |
Cities in Lorain County
Common questions about Lorain County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Lorain County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lorain County, about $42.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $8.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Lorain County had?
Lorain County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.
Is Lorain County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 9th 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 Lorain County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Lorain 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 Lorain County had?
NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Lorain County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 179 hail reports and 73 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.