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Meigs County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$12Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Meigs County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 53% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $523 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2019 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (106 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.5 million on 273 claims here, including $786,000 for floods in 2004.

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

Top risks in Meigs County

$9.8 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.
$511,142 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Tornado

Very Low
$251,812 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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 floodingLow72.7
$10M
Heat waveLow66.0
$511K
TornadoVery Low25.5
$252K
Strong windLow32.0
$209K
Ice stormModerate74.7
$190K
LightningLow47.7
$143K
Cold waveVery Low17.8
$125K
EarthquakeVery Low40.2
$104K
DroughtLow49.4
$92K
HurricaneVery Low55.7
$85K
HailVery Low24.2
$59K
LandslideModerate88.9
$34K
Winter weatherVery Low18.8
$11K
WildfireVery Low8.4
$2K

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood5
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
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Show all 16
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1996FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1996Severe Storms and 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 1967

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 278 storm reports in Meigs County since 1967, with 2 deaths and 9 injuries and about $12.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on September 16, 2010 near Joppa.

6tornadoes
55hail reports, largest 2 inches
103damaging thunderstorm winds
109floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 16, 2010EF3Joppa6 / 0
Mar 13, 1967F2–0 / 0
Feb 21, 1993F1Salem Center3 / 0
May 21, 2001F1Danville0 / 0
Mar 1, 2017EF1Langsville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodNortheast Portion$3M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindDyesville$2M
Sep 16, 2010TornadoJoppa$2M
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$800K
Feb 17, 2018FloodPomeroy$750K
Feb 18, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$700K

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.

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 Meigs County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 31 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph31 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph30 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph30 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph31 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 Meigs County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (106 policies)
6.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.5 millionpaid on 273 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $786,131 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 Meigs County

$119,300median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25.5%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; 10,675 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
Wood County, WVLow16
Athens CountyLow17
Gallia CountyLow15
Jackson County, WVLow22
Mason County, WVLow19
Vinton CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Meigs County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Meigs County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Meigs County, about $9.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $511,142.

How many federal disasters has Meigs County had?

Meigs County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in April 2019.

Is Meigs County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Meigs County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Meigs 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 Meigs County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Meigs County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on September 16, 2010 near Joppa. The weather service has also logged 55 hail reports and 109 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Meigs County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Meigs 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.