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Scioto County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
24th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$27Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Scioto County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 70% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $27 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $360 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2019 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (221 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.7 million on 318 claims here, including $1.2 million for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Scioto County

$19.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.0
$20M
Heat waveModerate90.9
$3M
Strong windModerate73.8
$1M
TornadoLow45.0
$975K
EarthquakeLow62.6
$487K
LightningModerate71.2
$481K
Cold waveVery Low22.7
$248K
Ice stormModerate68.9
$193K
Winter weatherModerate72.0
$131K
HailVery Low29.7
$108K
HurricaneVery Low43.2
$37K
LandslideLow85.8
$31K
DroughtVery Low28.4
$19K
WildfireVery Low34.2
$17K

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 moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood5
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 8, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 7, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jun 24, 1996FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 25, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 1968Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 543 storm reports in Scioto County since 1965, with 10 deaths and 83 injuries and about $12.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 23, 1968.

15tornadoes
95hail reports, largest 3 inches
283damaging thunderstorm winds
144floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1968F5–75 / 7
Apr 8, 1965F3–0 / 0
Apr 23, 1968F2–1 / 0
Jun 16, 1982F2–0 / 0
Feb 21, 1993F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$3M
Apr 23, 1968Tornado–$3M
Feb 18, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Feb 21, 1993Tornado–$500K
Apr 15, 1994Tornado–$500K
Jul 21, 2010Flash FloodFranklin Furnace$300K

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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Scioto County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 49 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph49 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph41 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph41 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph49 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Scioto County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (221 policies)
9.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.7 millionpaid on 318 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $1.2 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 Scioto County

$137,900median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.7%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; 33,070 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
Lawrence CountyLow14
Greenup County, KYLow31
Jackson CountyVery Low14
Adams CountyLow17
Pike CountyLow15
Lewis County, KYVery Low32

Common questions about Scioto County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Scioto County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Scioto County, about $19.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Scioto County had?

Scioto County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in April 2019.

Is Scioto County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Scioto County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Scioto 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 Scioto County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Scioto County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 23, 1968. The weather service has also logged 95 hail reports and 144 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Scioto County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Scioto County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 50 mph.

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.