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Monroe County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
74th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$6Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Monroe County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 73% of US counties. It ranks 74th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $485 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2019 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). Only 23 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 108 claims here, including $977,000 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 Monroe County

$4.9 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.

Lightning

Moderate
$515,886 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 44 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.

Tornado

Very Low
$240,908 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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 floodingLow50.9
$5M
LightningModerate79.8
$516K
TornadoVery Low23.9
$241K
Cold waveVery Low17.1
$128K
DroughtLow52.7
$127K
HailLow38.8
$123K
Heat waveVery Low29.7
$95K
Strong windVery Low15.2
$91K
HurricaneVery Low54.8
$86K
EarthquakeVery Low33.0
$71K
Ice stormLow44.4
$48K
LandslideModerate90.6
$44K
WildfireVery Low18.3
$5K
Winter weatherVery Low4.9
$3K

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 high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood7
Snowstorm1
Tornado1
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
Jan 26, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High WindsMajor disaster
Show all 20
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
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
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 23, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 19, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
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 231 storm reports in Monroe County since 1967, with 2 deaths and 1 injury and about $19.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on February 28, 2024 near Miltonsburg.

3tornadoes
41hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
115damaging thunderstorm winds
69floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 28, 2024EF2Miltonsburg1 / 0
May 8, 1969F1–0 / 0
Jun 22, 1990F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 27, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$15M
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodWoodsfield$3M
Feb 28, 2024TornadoMiltonsburg$500K
May 8, 1969Tornado–$250K
Mar 25, 1996Thunderstorm WindHannibal$100K
Sep 7, 2009FloodAntioch$75K

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.

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 Monroe County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 63 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph48 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph48 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 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 Monroe County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (23 policies)
7.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 108 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $977,319 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 Monroe County

$142,700median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.5%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; 7,132 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
Belmont CountyLow20
Washington CountyLow18
Marshall County, WVLow23
Wetzel County, WVLow26
Noble CountyVery Low16
Tyler County, WVVery Low24

Common questions about Monroe County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Monroe County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Monroe County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $515,886.

How many federal disasters has Monroe County had?

Monroe County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in April 2019.

Is Monroe County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 74th 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 Monroe County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Monroe 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 Monroe County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Monroe County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on February 28, 2024 near Miltonsburg. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 69 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Monroe County?

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