Morrow County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Morrow County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 80th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $8.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $252 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2012 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Only 27 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Morrow 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 45.0 | $6M | ||
| Tornado | 40.6 | $939K | ||
| Strong wind | 41.3 | $454K | ||
| Hail | 61.1 | $415K | ||
| Ice storm | 69.2 | $223K | ||
| Cold wave | 17.0 | $188K | ||
| Earthquake | 39.9 | $162K | ||
| Lightning | 37.9 | $158K | ||
| Heat wave | 27.2 | $121K | ||
| Winter weather | 55.9 | $84K | ||
| Hurricane | 19.8 | $6K | ||
| Wildfire | 16.4 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 47.8 | $1K |
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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Morrow County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Ohio also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 291 storm reports in Morrow County since 1958, with 4 deaths and 94 injuries and about $42 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 13, 1981.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 1981 | F3 | – | 56 / 4 |
| Apr 11, 1965 | F2 | – | 22 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 1989 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 22, 1990 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 14, 1970 | F2 | – | 7 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 1981 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Apr 11, 1965 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Nov 15, 1989 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 22, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Climax | $2M |
| Jun 27, 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $2M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 Morrow 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 Morrow 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; 14,704 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | 13 | |
| Richland County | 16 | |
| Marion County | 10 | |
| Knox County | 10 | |
| Crawford County | 13 |
Common questions about Morrow County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Morrow County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Morrow County, about $6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $939,393.
How many federal disasters has Morrow County had?
Morrow County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in August 2012.
Is Morrow County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 80th 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 Morrow County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Morrow 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 Morrow County had?
NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Morrow County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 13, 1981. The weather service has also logged 79 hail reports and 24 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.