Preble County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 51.4 | $7M | ||
| Tornado | 76.7 | $4M | ||
| Strong wind | 79.4 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 47.5 | $913K | ||
| Earthquake | 63.2 | $577K | ||
| Hail | 46.9 | $248K | ||
| Heat wave | 33.8 | $178K | ||
| Ice storm | 61.4 | $153K | ||
| Lightning | 36.8 | $152K | ||
| Winter weather | 37.0 | $43K | ||
| Drought | 30.1 | $27K | ||
| Hurricane | 28.3 | $13K | ||
| Wildfire | 13.6 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 52.7 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1961 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 13, 1953 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 1992 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Apr 25, 1961 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Nov 7, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | West Manchester | $1M |
| Jun 15, 2003 | Flash Flood | Fairhaven | $500K |
| May 19, 2019 | Tornado | New Lexington | $300K |
| Apr 8, 1980 | Tornado | – | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 11 | |
| Butler County | 12 | |
| Wayne County, IN | 14 | |
| Darke County | 11 | |
| Union County, IN | 15 |
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.