Montgomery County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Montgomery County, Ohio has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 93% of US counties. It ranks 4th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $119 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $222 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2019 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslide). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (946 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.1 million on 347 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Montgomery 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 95.5 | $80M | ||
| Cold wave | 95.0 | $11M | ||
| Tornado | 92.6 | $9M | ||
| Earthquake | 91.1 | $6M | ||
| Strong wind | 97.5 | $4M | ||
| Hail | 95.7 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 88.7 | $3M | ||
| Ice storm | 96.3 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 93.8 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 92.6 | $480K | ||
| Hurricane | 49.2 | $66K | ||
| Wildfire | 44.1 | $32K | ||
| Drought | 26.9 | $16K | ||
| Landslide | 66.2 | $4K |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Montgomery County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
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 819 storm reports in Montgomery County since 1956, with 3 deaths and 223 injuries and about $580 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on May 27, 2019 near Pyrmont.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2019 | EF4 | Pyrmont | 166 / 1 |
| May 8, 1969 | F3 | – | 25 / 0 |
| May 27, 2019 | EF2 | Spanker | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 2019 | EF2 | Eastview | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 31, 2013 | EF1 | Vandalia | 8 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2019 | Tornado | Pyrmont | $500M |
| Apr 9, 2001 | Hail | Huber Hgts | $70M |
| May 8, 1969 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Oct 31, 2013 | Tornado | Vandalia | $2M |
| May 27, 2019 | Tornado | Spanker | $1M |
| May 27, 2019 | Tornado | Eastview | $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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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; 252,843 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Butler County | 12 | |
| Warren County | 11 | |
| Greene County | 14 | |
| Clark County | 9 | |
| Miami County | 13 | |
| Darke County | 11 | |
| Preble County | 9 |
Cities in Montgomery County
Common questions about Montgomery County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Montgomery County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Montgomery County, about $79.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $10.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Montgomery County had?
Montgomery County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide in June 2019.
Is Montgomery County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 4th 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 Montgomery County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County had?
NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Montgomery County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on May 27, 2019 near Pyrmont. The weather service has also logged 207 hail reports and 104 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.