Richland County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 71.6 | $14M | ||
| Tornado | 62.3 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 88.9 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 70.0 | $982K | ||
| Heat wave | 68.5 | $862K | ||
| Ice storm | 89.0 | $842K | ||
| Cold wave | 43.9 | $766K | ||
| Lightning | 68.5 | $470K | ||
| Earthquake | 56.2 | $385K | ||
| Winter weather | 87.7 | $342K | ||
| Hurricane | 44.7 | $45K | ||
| Wildfire | 35.6 | $20K | ||
| Landslide | 56.7 | $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
Most recent
Show all 16
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 1985 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 1989 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 22, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 4, 2017 | EF2 | Crestline | 2 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 2019 | EF2 | Vernon Jct | 5 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2007 | Flash Flood | Shelby | $75M |
| Mar 28, 1985 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Nov 15, 1989 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 22, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jul 10, 2013 | Flood | Shenandoah Carols Ar | $2M |
| Feb 28, 2011 | Flash Flood | Bellville | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 10 | |
| Huron County | 11 | |
| Ashland County | 9 | |
| Crawford County | 13 | |
| Morrow County | 14 |
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.