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Stark County, Ohio

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$77Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Stark County, Ohio has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 88% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $77 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $204 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 10 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 (337 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.3 million on 456 claims here, including $2.9 million 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 Stark County

$49.7 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$6.6 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

High
$6.2 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 floodingModerate91.7
$50M
TornadoModerate87.7
$7M
HailHigh97.8
$6M
Cold waveModerate84.3
$5M
Heat waveModerate84.7
$2M
Strong windHigh86.2
$2M
LightningHigh93.6
$2M
EarthquakeLow78.8
$2M
Ice stormHigh89.9
$1M
Winter weatherHigh88.9
$408K
HurricaneVery Low58.2
$178K
WildfireVery Low49.0
$48K
DroughtLow34.2
$41K
LandslideVery Low59.9
$3K

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 Stark County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Tornado2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 2, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High WindsMajor 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 700 storm reports in Stark County since 1955, with 4 deaths and 19 injuries and about $223 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on November 16, 1965.

18tornadoes
229hail reports, largest 3 inches
373damaging thunderstorm winds
60floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 16, 1965F2–9 / 2
Apr 28, 2002F2Crystal Spgs2 / 0
Jun 30, 1977F2–0 / 0
Jun 22, 2006F1Brewster0 / 0
Nov 10, 2002F1Massillon0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 27, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$52M
Apr 28, 2002TornadoCrystal Spgs$46M
Jul 26, 2008HailReedurban$30M
Jul 26, 2008HailPerry Hgts$26M
May 17, 2004HailCountywide$25M
Jun 17, 2019FloodCanal Fulton$7M

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 Stark County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (337 policies)
25.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8.3 millionpaid on 456 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $2.9 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 Stark County

$186,400median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
71%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.2%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; 167,949 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
Summit CountyModerate11
Mahoning CountyModerate10
Portage CountyLow9
Wayne CountyLow8
Columbiana CountyLow16
Tuscarawas CountyLow11
Holmes CountyLow10
Carroll CountyVery Low9

Cities in Stark County

Common questions about Stark County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Stark County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Stark County, about $49.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $6.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Stark County had?

Stark County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Stark County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Stark County?

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

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Stark County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on November 16, 1965. The weather service has also logged 229 hail reports and 60 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.