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Richland County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
39th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$22Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Richland County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $178 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (87 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $9.8 million on 329 claims here, including $5.8 million for floods in 2007.

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

Top risks in Richland County

$14 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.
$1.9 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow71.6
$14M
TornadoLow62.3
$2M
HailModerate88.9
$2M
Strong windModerate70.0
$982K
Heat waveLow68.5
$862K
Ice stormHigh89.0
$842K
Cold waveLow43.9
$766K
LightningModerate68.5
$470K
EarthquakeVery Low56.2
$385K
Winter weatherHigh87.7
$342K
HurricaneVery Low44.7
$45K
WildfireVery Low35.6
$20K
LandslideVery Low56.7
$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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm4
Tornado3
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 2, 2024TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Apr 24, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Aug 27, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High WindsMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 17, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 562 storm reports in Richland County since 1956, with 1 death and 26 injuries and about $106 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on March 28, 1985.

30tornadoes
169hail reports, largest 2 inches
310damaging thunderstorm winds
51floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 28, 1985F2–0 / 0
Nov 15, 1989F2–0 / 0
Jun 22, 1990F2–0 / 0
Sep 4, 2017EF2Crestline2 / 0
Apr 14, 2019EF2Vernon Jct5 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 21, 2007Flash FloodShelby$75M
Mar 28, 1985Tornado–$3M
Nov 15, 1989Tornado–$3M
Jun 22, 1990Tornado–$3M
Jul 10, 2013FloodShenandoah Carols Ar$2M
Feb 28, 2011Flash FloodBellville$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 Richland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (87 policies)
19.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9.8 millionpaid on 329 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $5.8 million 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 Richland County

$164,800median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1965median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4%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; 54,668 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
Knox CountyLow10
Huron CountyLow11
Ashland CountyLow9
Crawford CountyVery Low13
Morrow CountyVery Low14

Cities in Richland County

Common questions about Richland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Richland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Richland County, about $14 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Richland County had?

Richland County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Tornadoes in May 2024.

Is Richland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 39th 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 Richland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Richland 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 Richland County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Richland County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on March 28, 1985. The weather service has also logged 169 hail reports and 51 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.