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Morgan County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
84th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$7Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$5.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$181,740 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Tornado

Very Low
$174,103 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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 floodingLow45.3
$6M
DroughtLow53.8
$182K
TornadoVery Low17.0
$174K
Heat waveVery Low32.5
$148K
LightningLow30.2
$105K
HailVery Low25.2
$90K
Strong windVery Low12.0
$87K
Cold waveVery Low10.9
$84K
Ice stormLow48.8
$78K
EarthquakeVery Low24.7
$42K
LandslideLow83.7
$24K
HurricaneVery Low36.4
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low10.4
$8K
WildfireVery Low11.2
$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

Severe Storm9
Flood4
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 2, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
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
Show all 16
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
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

1tornadoes
35hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
129damaging thunderstorm winds
41floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 16, 2010EF0Rose Farm0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindDeavertown$500K
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$400K
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$400K
Jul 22, 2008Thunderstorm WindStockport$75K
Sep 16, 2010TornadoRose Farm$60K
Nov 17, 1993Thunderstorm WindStockport$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.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph39 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph40 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph39 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph40 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 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 ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (44 policies)
4.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2 millionpaid on 185 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $683,625 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 Morgan County

$150,900median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.6%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; 7,320 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
Muskingum CountyLow16
Athens CountyLow17
Washington CountyLow18
Perry CountyVery Low18
Noble CountyVery Low16

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.