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Seneca County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
56th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$16Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Seneca County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 56th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $294 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (65 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.9 million on 123 claims here, including $744,000 for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Seneca County

$10.3 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.
$1.8 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow61.2
$10M
TornadoLow58.0
$2M
Cold waveLow51.5
$1M
HailModerate78.7
$898K
Strong windModerate54.7
$687K
EarthquakeVery Low57.1
$431K
Ice stormModerate75.1
$318K
LightningLow53.7
$293K
Heat waveVery Low34.4
$188K
Winter weatherModerate71.9
$154K
HurricaneVery Low44.1
$46K
WildfireVery Low2.8
$1K
LandslideVery Low37.8
$615

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 Seneca County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm3
Tornado2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
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
Nov 18, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 15, 1969Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 468 storm reports in Seneca County since 1959, with 7 deaths and 37 injuries and about $37.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 11, 1965.

23tornadoes
159hail reports, largest 3 inches
253damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F3–30 / 4
Nov 10, 2002F3Tiffin2 / 1
May 10, 1973F3–0 / 1
Feb 18, 1961F2–0 / 0
Nov 16, 1965F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 10, 2002TornadoTiffin$13M
Aug 2, 1993HailS Portion$5M
May 10, 1973Tornado–$3M
Aug 20, 2007FloodBettsville$2M
Feb 28, 2011Flash FloodTiffin$2M
Jun 21, 2006Flash FloodWest Portion$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 Seneca County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (65 policies)
15.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.9 millionpaid on 123 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $743,737 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 Seneca County

$154,700median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.2%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; 23,982 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
Hancock CountyLow12
Sandusky CountyLow11
Huron CountyLow11
Crawford CountyVery Low13
Wyandot CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Seneca County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Seneca County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Seneca County, about $10.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Seneca County had?

Seneca County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Seneca County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 56th 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 Seneca County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Seneca 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 Seneca County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Seneca County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 159 hail reports and 28 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.