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Lucas County, Ohio

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
5th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$111Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0

Lucas County, Ohio has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $111 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $258 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (888 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.7 million on 1,201 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 2006.

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

Top risks in Lucas County

$71.5 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.
$17.5 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.
$7.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh95.4
$71M
TornadoHigh97.3
$18M
Cold waveHigh92.0
$8M
EarthquakeLow88.1
$4M
HailHigh96.0
$3M
Strong windHigh94.6
$3M
Heat waveModerate85.3
$2M
Ice stormVery High95.8
$2M
LightningHigh90.4
$1M
Winter weatherHigh86.6
$284K
HurricaneVery Low56.9
$133K
DroughtLow39.0
$55K
Coastal floodingVery Low42.8
$28K
WildfireVery Low36.5
$19K
LandslideVery Low37.2
$496

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 moderate 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 Lucas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Flood3
Tornado2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 2, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 4, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
May 31, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Nov 24, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & 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 595 storm reports in Lucas County since 1956, with 24 deaths and 228 injuries and about $116 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.

12tornadoes
201hail reports, largest 3 inches
338damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–207 / 16
Apr 8, 1980F2–2 / 0
Jul 12, 1992F2–1 / 0
Nov 17, 2013EF2Booth0 / 0
Jun 15, 2023EF2National Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 21, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$42M
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$25M
Jul 1, 2019FloodToledo$15M
Jun 26, 2015FloodBerkey$9M
Jul 29, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$4M
Apr 8, 1980Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 Lucas County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (888 policies)
18.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.7 millionpaid on 1,201 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $2.4 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 Lucas County

$163,900median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.1%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; 200,998 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
Monroe County, MIModerate8
Wood CountyLow8
Lenawee County, MILow4
Fulton CountyVery Low7
Ottawa CountyLow11
Henry CountyVery Low8

Cities in Lucas County

Common questions about Lucas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lucas County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lucas County, about $71.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $17.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Lucas County had?

Lucas County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Lucas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 5th 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 Lucas County?

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

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Lucas County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 201 hail reports and 28 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.