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Preble County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
60th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$15Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Preble County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 57% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $356 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (87 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $372,000 on 48 claims here.

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

Top risks in Preble County

$7.4 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow51.4
$7M
TornadoModerate76.7
$4M
Strong windModerate79.4
$1M
Cold waveLow47.5
$913K
EarthquakeLow63.2
$577K
HailLow46.9
$248K
Heat waveVery Low33.8
$178K
Ice stormModerate61.4
$153K
LightningLow36.8
$152K
Winter weatherLow37.0
$43K
DroughtVery Low30.1
$27K
HurricaneVery Low28.3
$13K
WildfireVery Low13.6
$5K
LandslideVery Low52.7
$2K

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 Preble County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Snowstorm3
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 340 storm reports in Preble County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $31.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 25, 1961.

17tornadoes
61hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
197damaging thunderstorm winds
62floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 25, 1961F4–0 / 0
Nov 22, 1992F3–0 / 0
Jun 13, 1953F2–0 / 0
Jul 12, 1986F2–0 / 0
Apr 8, 1980F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 22, 1992Tornado–$25M
Apr 25, 1961Tornado–$3M
Nov 7, 1996Thunderstorm WindWest Manchester$1M
Jun 15, 2003Flash FloodFairhaven$500K
May 19, 2019TornadoNew Lexington$300K
Apr 8, 1980Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Preble County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (87 policies)
14.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$371,766paid on 48 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year, with $163,109 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 Preble County

$180,900median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.2%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; 18,140 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
Montgomery CountyModerate11
Butler CountyModerate12
Wayne County, INLow14
Darke CountyLow11
Union County, INVery Low15

Common questions about Preble County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Preble County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Preble County, about $7.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Preble County had?

Preble County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Preble County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 60th 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 Preble County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Preble 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 Preble County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Preble County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 25, 1961. The weather service has also logged 61 hail reports and 62 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.