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Van Wert County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
82nd of 88highest risk in Ohio
$9Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Van Wert County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 82nd of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $8.5 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 (7 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2012 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Only 43 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $231,000 on 36 claims here.

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

Top risks in Van Wert County

$4.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.4 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low33.7
$5M
TornadoLow48.2
$1M
Strong windModerate70.2
$1M
EarthquakeVery Low57.0
$461K
HailLow53.2
$354K
Cold waveVery Low23.5
$340K
LightningVery Low22.9
$92K
Heat waveVery Low20.6
$75K
Ice stormLow38.2
$57K
Winter weatherLow29.6
$34K
HurricaneVery Low29.8
$16K
WildfireVery Low3.4
$1K
LandslideVery Low15.4
$79

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 Van Wert County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 18, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 4, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 11
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 359 storm reports in Van Wert County since 1950, with 3 deaths and 28 injuries and about $37 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Willshire.

42tornadoes
73hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
227damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 10, 2002F4Willshire17 / 2
Feb 18, 1992F4–6 / 0
Apr 11, 1965F4–4 / 0
Mar 31, 2006F2Ohio City0 / 0
Jul 19, 1950F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 10, 2002TornadoWillshire$30M
Feb 18, 1992Tornado–$3M
Mar 31, 2006TornadoOhio City$1M
Jul 10, 2017Flash FloodVan Wert Arpt$425K
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$250K
Jun 21, 1981Tornado–$250K

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 Van Wert County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (43 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$230,944paid on 36 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $167,677 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 Van Wert County

$152,000median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1960median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.4%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; 12,573 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
Allen County, INModerate16
Allen CountyLow8
Auglaize CountyVery Low11
Mercer CountyVery Low12
Adams County, INLow15
Putnam CountyVery Low11
Paulding CountyVery Low11

Common questions about Van Wert County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Van Wert County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Van Wert County, about $4.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Van Wert County had?

Van Wert County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in August 2012.

Is Van Wert County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 82nd 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 Van Wert County?

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

NOAA records list 42 tornadoes in Van Wert County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Willshire. The weather service has also logged 73 hail reports and 14 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.