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Sandusky County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
45th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$20Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sandusky County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 45th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $339 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (119 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $826,000 on 145 claims here.

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

Top risks in Sandusky County

$12.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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
$1.1 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 floodingLow67.7
$12M
TornadoModerate71.4
$3M
Strong windModerate73.3
$1M
HailModerate80.8
$965K
Cold waveLow49.0
$953K
EarthquakeLow62.2
$539K
Ice stormModerate80.6
$446K
LightningLow54.4
$286K
Heat waveVery Low37.8
$216K
Winter weatherModerate78.5
$202K
HurricaneVery Low44.9
$47K
Coastal floodingVery Low32.0
$6K
WildfireVery Low6.4
$2K
LandslideVery Low32.8
$400

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 Sandusky County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Flood2
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 2, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 18, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
May 31, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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 374 storm reports in Sandusky County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 29 injuries and about $53.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1953.

13tornadoes
106hail reports, largest 3 inches
222damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 8, 1953F4–0 / 0
Jun 30, 1977F1–18 / 0
Nov 10, 2002F1Fremont0 / 0
Jul 12, 1992F1–3 / 0
Nov 5, 2017EF1Vickery Warner Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 30, 1977Tornado–$25M
Jun 22, 2006FloodCountywide$8M
Jul 10, 2013Thunderstorm WindGibsonburg$3M
Jun 22, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$3M
Jun 24, 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$3M
Nov 10, 2002TornadoFremont$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Sandusky County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (119 policies)
20.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$826,319paid on 145 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $111,171 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 Sandusky County

$160,700median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1960median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
71%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.4%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; 26,501 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
Wood CountyLow8
Erie CountyLow11
Huron CountyLow11
Seneca CountyLow11
Ottawa CountyLow11

Common questions about Sandusky County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sandusky County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sandusky County, about $12.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Sandusky County had?

Sandusky County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Sandusky County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 45th 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 Sandusky County?

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

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Sandusky County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 8, 1953. The weather service has also logged 106 hail reports and 26 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.