Morgan County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Morgan County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 84th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $477 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 October 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding and landslides). Only 44 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.0 million on 185 claims here, including $684,000 for floods in 2005.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Morgan 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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 | 45.3 | $6M | ||
| Drought | 53.8 | $182K | ||
| Tornado | 17.0 | $174K | ||
| Heat wave | 32.5 | $148K | ||
| Lightning | 30.2 | $105K | ||
| Hail | 25.2 | $90K | ||
| Strong wind | 12.0 | $87K | ||
| Cold wave | 10.9 | $84K | ||
| Ice storm | 48.8 | $78K | ||
| Earthquake | 24.7 | $42K | ||
| Landslide | 83.7 | $24K | ||
| Hurricane | 36.4 | $23K | ||
| Winter weather | 10.4 | $8K | ||
| Wildfire | 11.2 | $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 moderate 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 Morgan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Ohio also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1961
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 208 storm reports in Morgan County since 1961, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries and about $2.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on September 16, 2010 near Rose Farm.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2010 | EF0 | Rose Farm | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Deavertown | $500K |
| Jun 28, 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $400K |
| Jun 28, 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $400K |
| Jul 22, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Stockport | $75K |
| Sep 16, 2010 | Tornado | Rose Farm | $60K |
| Nov 17, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Stockport | $50K |
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 Morgan County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 39 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 40 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 39 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 40 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 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 Morgan 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 Morgan 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; 7,320 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Muskingum County | 16 | |
| Athens County | 17 | |
| Washington County | 18 | |
| Perry County | 18 | |
| Noble County | 16 |
Common questions about Morgan County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Morgan County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Morgan County, about $5.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $181,740.
How many federal disasters has Morgan County had?
Morgan 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, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides in October 2026.
Is Morgan County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 84th 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 Morgan County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Morgan 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 Morgan County had?
NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Morgan County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on September 16, 2010 near Rose Farm. The weather service has also logged 35 hail reports and 41 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Morgan County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Morgan 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.