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Muskingum County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
23rd of 88highest risk in Ohio
$29Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Muskingum County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $29 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $340 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding and landslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (96 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.2 million on 182 claims here, including $678,000 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 Muskingum County

$23.6 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.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Hail

Moderate
$840,732 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate83.8
$24M
TornadoLow56.3
$2M
HailModerate79.3
$841K
Strong windModerate61.2
$758K
Heat waveLow62.8
$657K
LightningModerate70.0
$499K
DroughtModerate67.7
$452K
Cold waveLow26.2
$349K
EarthquakeVery Low51.8
$301K
Ice stormModerate72.4
$250K
Winter weatherModerate66.6
$115K
HurricaneVery Low43.1
$40K
LandslideLow84.7
$28K
WildfireVery Low33.6
$18K

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 Muskingum County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Tornado2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 2, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor 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
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 23, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Ohio also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 561 storm reports in Muskingum County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 34 injuries and about $36.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on March 10, 1986.

27tornadoes
115hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
329damaging thunderstorm winds
84floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 10, 1986F2–3 / 1
Jun 13, 1981F2–0 / 0
Nov 16, 1965F2–5 / 0
Jun 25, 1968F2–5 / 0
Aug 14, 1973F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 27, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$24M
Jun 13, 1981Tornado–$3M
May 31, 1985Tornado–$3M
Apr 20, 2011Thunderstorm WindDuncan Falls$1M
Apr 2, 2024TornadoZanesville Parr Arpt$1M
Apr 2, 2024TornadoBloomfield$450K

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 Muskingum County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 61 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 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 Muskingum County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (96 policies)
9.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.2 millionpaid on 182 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $677,960 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 Muskingum County

$182,200median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.8%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; 38,357 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
Licking CountyLow19
Guernsey CountyVery Low15
Coshocton CountyLow14
Perry CountyVery Low18
Noble CountyVery Low16
Morgan CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Muskingum County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Muskingum County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Muskingum County, about $23.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Muskingum County had?

Muskingum County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides in October 2026.

Is Muskingum County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Muskingum County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Muskingum 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 Muskingum County had?

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Muskingum County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on March 10, 1986. The weather service has also logged 115 hail reports and 84 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Muskingum County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Muskingum 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.