Noble County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Noble County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 86th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $4.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $329 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2019 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). Only 31 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.9 million on 174 claims here, including $2.2 million for floods in 2004.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Noble 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 35.8 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 24.7 | $296K | ||
| Lightning | 40.6 | $136K | ||
| Hail | 36.8 | $132K | ||
| Cold wave | 14.2 | $116K | ||
| Heat wave | 28.7 | $103K | ||
| Strong wind | 14.1 | $95K | ||
| Drought | 42.5 | $70K | ||
| Ice storm | 48.5 | $66K | ||
| Hurricane | 49.0 | $56K | ||
| Earthquake | 28.7 | $53K | ||
| Landslide | 86.1 | $29K | ||
| Winter weather | 14.8 | $10K | ||
| Wildfire | 22.6 | $8K |
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 high 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 Noble 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 1968
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 259 storm reports in Noble County since 1968, with 6 deaths and 1 injury and about $21.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 27, 1998 near Summerfield.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 1998 | F2 | Summerfield | 1 / 1 |
| Dec 23, 1990 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 24, 1969 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | EF0 | Seneraville Res | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $20M |
| Dec 23, 1990 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 16, 2022 | Flash Flood | Mt Zion | $80K |
| Jun 27, 1998 | Tornado | Summerfield | $75K |
| Jun 17, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Caldwell | $50K |
| Jun 4, 2008 | Flash Flood | Caldwell | $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 Noble County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 53 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 45 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 48 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 45 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 48 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 53 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 Noble 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 Noble 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; 5,798 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 | |
| Belmont County | 20 | |
| Washington County | 18 | |
| Guernsey County | 15 | |
| Morgan County | 16 | |
| Monroe County | 20 |
Common questions about Noble County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Noble County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Noble County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $296,330.
How many federal disasters has Noble County had?
Noble County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in April 2019.
Is Noble County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 86th 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 Noble County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Noble 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 Noble County had?
NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Noble County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 27, 1998 near Summerfield. The weather service has also logged 30 hail reports and 107 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Noble County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Noble 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.