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Tuscarawas County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$21Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tuscarawas County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 69% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $230 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 (173 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 192 claims here, including $448,000 for floods in 2004.

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

Top risks in Tuscarawas County

$16.7 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.

Hail

Moderate
$973,628 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.
$846,758 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.3
$17M
HailModerate86.0
$974K
TornadoLow46.6
$847K
LightningModerate80.7
$574K
Heat waveLow65.6
$574K
Strong windModerate60.2
$564K
DroughtModerate65.4
$307K
Cold waveLow28.1
$288K
EarthquakeVery Low54.9
$274K
Ice stormModerate74.2
$213K
Winter weatherModerate71.1
$104K
HurricaneVery Low47.9
$47K
LandslideLow83.3
$19K
WildfireVery Low38.3
$18K

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

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor 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
Jan 26, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
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 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 616 storm reports in Tuscarawas County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 15 injuries and about $29.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on March 11, 1955.

15tornadoes
125hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
376damaging thunderstorm winds
97floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 11, 1955F2–1 / 0
Nov 12, 2003F2New Philadelphia1 / 0
Jul 22, 1958F2–3 / 0
Jun 7, 1980F1–0 / 0
Jun 5, 2010EF1Shanesville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 28, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$20M
Jun 7, 1980Tornado–$3M
Jun 5, 2010TornadoShanesville$350K
Apr 13, 1952Tornado–$250K
Mar 11, 1955Tornado–$250K
Jun 7, 1978Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 14, 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 1989, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tuscarawas County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 45 mph about 51 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1989most recent: Hugo

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph51 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 Tuscarawas County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (173 policies)
13.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 192 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $448,396 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 Tuscarawas County

$185,400median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.5%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; 40,913 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
Stark CountyModerate10
Holmes CountyLow10
Guernsey CountyVery Low15
Coshocton CountyLow14
Carroll CountyVery Low9
Harrison CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Tuscarawas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tuscarawas County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tuscarawas County, about $16.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $973,628.

How many federal disasters has Tuscarawas County had?

Tuscarawas 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 Tuscarawas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Tuscarawas County?

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

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Tuscarawas County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on March 11, 1955. The weather service has also logged 125 hail reports and 97 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tuscarawas County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Tuscarawas County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with winds near 45 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.