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Paulding County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
81st of 88highest risk in Ohio
$8Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Paulding County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 79% of US counties. It ranks 81st of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $8.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $441 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2012 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Only 49 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $239,000 on 34 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Paulding County

$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.4 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.
$548,549 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow39.2
$5M
TornadoLow51.2
$1M
Strong windLow46.8
$549K
HailLow55.8
$360K
EarthquakeVery Low50.3
$307K
Cold waveVery Low21.1
$268K
Ice stormLow47.3
$83K
LightningVery Low17.8
$66K
Heat waveVery Low17.1
$50K
Winter weatherVery Low24.2
$24K
HurricaneVery Low32.3
$19K
WildfireVery Low4.4
$2K
LandslideVery Low35.6
$514

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Paulding County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm2
Flood2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

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
Nov 18, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1996FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 26, 1982Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 11
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1974

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 208 storm reports in Paulding County since 1974, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $3.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1974.

16tornadoes
49hail reports, largest 3 inches
128damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F3–1 / 0
Nov 10, 2002F3Roselms0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F2–0 / 0
Aug 24, 2016EF2Knoxdale0 / 0
Apr 2, 2025EF2Mandale0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 16, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$750K
Aug 5, 1998Flash FloodPaulding$650K
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$250K
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$250K
Jun 30, 1977Tornado–$250K
Jul 5, 1980Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 Paulding County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (49 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$238,611paid on 34 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $63,654 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 Paulding County

$140,800median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%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; 8,551 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
Allen County, INModerate16
Defiance CountyVery Low6
Putnam CountyVery Low11
Van Wert CountyVery Low11

Common questions about Paulding County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Paulding County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Paulding County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Paulding County had?

Paulding County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in August 2012.

Is Paulding County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 81st 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 Paulding County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Paulding 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 Paulding County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Paulding County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 49 hail reports and 15 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.