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Pickaway County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
51st of 88highest risk in Ohio
$18Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pickaway County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 51% of US counties. It ranks 51st of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $315 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2019 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslide). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (70 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $708,000 on 71 claims here.

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

Top risks in Pickaway County

$12.4 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow66.0
$12M
TornadoLow52.9
$2M
DroughtModerate83.4
$1M
Heat waveLow58.5
$602K
Strong windLow46.3
$546K
LightningModerate65.4
$464K
HailLow61.2
$436K
EarthquakeVery Low54.0
$376K
Cold waveLow25.5
$372K
Ice stormModerate76.9
$363K
Winter weatherModerate62.4
$109K
HurricaneVery Low26.7
$12K
WildfireVery Low18.6
$8K
LandslideVery Low48.6
$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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm6
Tornado3
Snowstorm2
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 18, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslideMajor 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
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 13
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 341 storm reports in Pickaway County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 45 injuries and about $13.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 13, 1999 near Circleville.

27tornadoes
66hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
181damaging thunderstorm winds
64floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 13, 1999F3Circleville6 / 0
Sep 3, 1970F3–1 / 0
Mar 10, 1986F2–10 / 0
May 22, 1958F2–3 / 0
Oct 11, 2006F2Orient0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 13, 1999TornadoCircleville$4M
Mar 10, 1986Tornado–$3M
May 28, 2019TornadoStringtown$2M
May 27, 2019TornadoHayesville$1M
Jun 29, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Aug 28, 2006TornadoCircleville$260K

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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Pickaway County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
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 Pickaway County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (70 policies)
12.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$707,735paid on 71 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $295,957 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 Pickaway County

$256,800median 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
7.2%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; 22,981 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
Franklin CountyHigh19
Fairfield CountyLow11
Ross CountyLow14
Madison CountyVery Low10
Fayette CountyVery Low9
Hocking CountyLow16

Common questions about Pickaway County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pickaway County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pickaway County, about $12.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Pickaway County had?

Pickaway County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide in June 2019.

Is Pickaway County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 51st 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 Pickaway County?

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

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Pickaway County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 13, 1999 near Circleville. The weather service has also logged 66 hail reports and 64 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Pickaway County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Pickaway 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.