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Perry County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
76th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$8Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Perry County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 76th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $8.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $228 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 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 (88 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 137 claims here, including $743,000 for floods in 2013.

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

Top risks in Perry County

$5.6 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.
$546,619 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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.

Drought

Moderate
$363,938 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.0
$6M
TornadoLow32.4
$547K
DroughtModerate65.0
$364K
LightningModerate63.4
$355K
Heat waveLow47.4
$307K
HailLow48.6
$230K
Strong windLow23.5
$202K
Ice stormModerate67.3
$176K
EarthquakeVery Low36.2
$110K
Cold waveVery Low10.7
$78K
Winter weatherLow36.2
$36K
LandslideLow79.6
$14K
WildfireVery Low18.4
$6K
HurricaneVery Low19.1
$5K

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Tornado1

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
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 376 storm reports in Perry County since 1965, with 1 death and 13 injuries and about $10.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 10, 1973.

12tornadoes
69hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
230damaging thunderstorm winds
63floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 10, 1973F3–1 / 0
Sep 16, 2010EF2Carthon1 / 0
Jun 13, 1981F2–2 / 0
Jun 27, 1978F1–0 / 0
Apr 12, 1965F1–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 27, 1978Tornado–$3M
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindThornville$1M
Sep 16, 2010TornadoCarthon$500K
Jul 9, 2013Flash FloodJunction City$350K
Jul 22, 2008Thunderstorm WindJunction City$300K

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 Perry County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 63 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 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 Perry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (88 policies)
13.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 137 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $743,155 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 Perry County

$191,100median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.3%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; 15,044 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
Fairfield CountyLow11
Muskingum CountyLow16
Athens CountyLow17
Hocking CountyLow16
Morgan CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Perry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Perry County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Perry County, about $5.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $546,619.

How many federal disasters has Perry County had?

Perry County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides in October 2026.

Is Perry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 76th 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 Perry County?

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

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Perry County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 10, 1973. The weather service has also logged 69 hail reports and 63 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Perry County?

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