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Miami County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
37th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$29Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Miami 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 37th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $29 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $266 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (268 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.3 million on 150 claims here, including $927,000 for floods in 2014.

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

Top risks in Miami County

$17.1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.1 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.
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 515 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow70.1
$17M
TornadoModerate75.4
$4M
EarthquakeLow80.4
$2M
Cold waveLow57.2
$2M
Strong windModerate76.0
$1M
LightningModerate72.6
$710K
HailLow68.6
$684K
Ice stormModerate78.0
$456K
Heat waveLow41.7
$323K
Winter weatherModerate65.6
$144K
DroughtLow32.3
$42K
HurricaneVery Low33.5
$24K
WildfireVery Low21.0
$11K
LandslideVery Low42.6
$1K

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 Miami County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm3
Tornado2
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 2, 2024TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor 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
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Show all 13
Aug 25, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 414 storm reports in Miami County since 1955, with 1 death and 10 injuries and about $20.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 27, 2019 near Potsdam.

35tornadoes
80hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
241damaging thunderstorm winds
50floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 27, 2019EF3Potsdam1 / 0
Jun 8, 2022EF2West Milton0 / 0
Mar 14, 2024EF2Bradford0 / 0
Jun 8, 1961F2–0 / 0
May 22, 1959F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 27, 2019TornadoPotsdam$10M
Jun 3, 1989Tornado–$3M
May 21, 2014Flash FloodTipp City$1M
Jun 8, 2022TornadoWest Milton$1M
Mar 14, 2024TornadoBradford$750K
Jan 11, 2020TornadoTroy$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Miami County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (268 policies)
24.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.3 millionpaid on 150 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $926,838 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 Miami County

$229,100median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.1%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; 47,226 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
Montgomery CountyModerate11
Clark CountyLow9
Darke CountyLow11
Shelby CountyLow13
Champaign CountyVery Low9

Cities in Miami County

Common questions about Miami County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Miami County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Miami County, about $17.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Miami County had?

Miami County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Tornadoes in May 2024.

Is Miami County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 37th 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 Miami County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Miami 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 Miami County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Miami County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 27, 2019 near Potsdam. The weather service has also logged 80 hail reports and 50 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.