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Summit County, Ohio

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
7th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$102Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Seluryar, CC BY 2.0

Summit County, Ohio has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 91% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $102 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $189 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (724 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $13 million on 817 claims here, including $4.4 million for floods in 2013.

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

Top risks in Summit County

$65 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.

Hail

High
$13.2 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.
$7.9 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh94.0
$65M
HailHigh99.2
$13M
TornadoHigh91.1
$8M
Strong windHigh97.0
$4M
Heat waveModerate90.3
$3M
Cold waveModerate75.3
$3M
LightningHigh95.4
$2M
Ice stormHigh95.0
$2M
EarthquakeLow78.3
$1M
Winter weatherHigh95.5
$772K
HurricaneLow61.2
$239K
WildfireVery Low53.2
$57K
LandslideVery Low51.7
$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 Summit County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Tornado3
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High WindsMajor disaster
Nov 18, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 4, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 748 storm reports in Summit County since 1955, with 6 deaths and 12 injuries and about $507 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 12, 1992.

18tornadoes
259hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
404damaging thunderstorm winds
59floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 12, 1992F3–0 / 0
Jun 3, 1973F3–0 / 0
Nov 10, 2002F2Macedonia0 / 0
Apr 19, 1963F2–0 / 0
Apr 19, 1963F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 8, 2007HailAkron$288M
Jul 21, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$100M
Jul 10, 2013Flash FloodBarberton$15M
May 12, 2014Flash FloodSilver Lake$11M
Nov 10, 2002TornadoMacedonia$10M
May 22, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$8M

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 Summit County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (724 policies)
28.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$13 millionpaid on 817 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $4.4 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 Summit County

$208,700median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.9%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; 247,924 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
Cuyahoga CountyHigh16
Stark CountyModerate10
Medina CountyLow12
Portage CountyLow9
Wayne CountyLow8
Geauga CountyLow10

Common questions about Summit County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Summit County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Summit County, about $65 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $13.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Summit County had?

Summit County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Summit County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 7th 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 Summit County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Summit 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 Summit County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Summit County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 12, 1992. The weather service has also logged 259 hail reports and 59 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.