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Montgomery County, Ohio

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
4th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$119Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: Darius Pinkston from Cincinnati, United States, CC BY 2.0

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

$79.6 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.
$10.9 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.
$8.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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 floodingHigh95.5
$80M
Cold waveHigh95.0
$11M
TornadoHigh92.6
$9M
EarthquakeModerate91.1
$6M
Strong windHigh97.5
$4M
HailHigh95.7
$3M
Heat waveModerate88.7
$3M
Ice stormVery High96.3
$2M
LightningHigh93.8
$1M
Winter weatherHigh92.6
$480K
HurricaneVery Low49.2
$66K
WildfireVery Low44.1
$32K
DroughtVery Low26.9
$16K
LandslideLow66.2
$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

Severe Storm5
Flood2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Tornado1

Most recent

Jun 18, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor 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
Jun 10, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 11
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor 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 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.

22tornadoes
207hail reports, largest 3 inches
478damaging thunderstorm winds
104floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 27, 2019EF4Pyrmont166 / 1
May 8, 1969F3–25 / 0
May 27, 2019EF2Spanker0 / 0
May 27, 2019EF2Eastview0 / 0
Oct 31, 2013EF1Vandalia8 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 27, 2019TornadoPyrmont$500M
Apr 9, 2001HailHuber Hgts$70M
May 8, 1969Tornado–$3M
Oct 31, 2013TornadoVandalia$2M
May 27, 2019TornadoSpanker$1M
May 27, 2019TornadoEastview$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 ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (946 policies)
25.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.1 millionpaid on 347 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $348,870 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 Montgomery County

$180,900median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.3%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; 252,843 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
Butler CountyModerate12
Warren CountyLow11
Greene CountyLow14
Clark CountyLow9
Miami CountyLow13
Darke CountyLow11
Preble CountyLow9

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.