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Vinton County, Ohio

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

Very Low overall risk
87th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$4Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Vinton County, Ohio has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 87th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $3.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $301 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2019 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). Only 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $163,000 on 15 claims here.

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

Top risks in Vinton County

$3 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

Very Low
$194,589 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.
$185,816 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low34.6
$3M
TornadoVery Low21.3
$195K
Heat waveLow41.9
$186K
LightningLow34.3
$95K
Strong windVery Low12.5
$72K
Ice stormLow51.8
$68K
HailVery Low21.9
$58K
Cold waveVery Low10.2
$57K
DroughtLow40.4
$50K
EarthquakeVery Low28.1
$45K
LandslideLow87.1
$29K
HurricaneVery Low33.4
$13K
Winter weatherVery Low16.0
$10K
WildfireVery Low4.0
$980

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Snowstorm1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 8, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2018Severe Storms, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Jul 13, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High WindsMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Jun 24, 1996FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1974

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 257 storm reports in Vinton County since 1974, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $5.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on April 8, 2020 near Wilkesville.

6tornadoes
17hail reports, largest 1 inches
132damaging thunderstorm winds
100floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 8, 2020EF1Wilkesville0 / 0
Jul 22, 2017EF1Creola0 / 0
Jun 8, 2022EF1Hope0 / 0
Jun 8, 2022EF1Eagle Mills0 / 0
May 28, 2019EF0Mc Arthur Vntn Co Ar0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 10, 2011Flash FloodJimtown$3M
Mar 1, 1997Flash FloodCountywide$750K
Apr 15, 1994Thunderstorm WindZaleski$500K
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindEagle Mills$500K
Apr 8, 2020TornadoWilkesville$200K
May 2, 2010FloodRay$175K

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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Vinton County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 55 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph44 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph44 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 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 Vinton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$162,547paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $77,973 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 Vinton County

$150,000median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
28.4%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; 5,935 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
Ross CountyLow14
Athens CountyLow17
Jackson CountyVery Low14
Gallia CountyLow15
Hocking CountyLow16
Meigs CountyLow16

Common questions about Vinton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Vinton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Vinton County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $194,589.

How many federal disasters has Vinton County had?

Vinton County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in April 2019.

Is Vinton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 87th 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 Vinton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Vinton 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 Vinton County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Vinton County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on April 8, 2020 near Wilkesville. The weather service has also logged 17 hail reports and 100 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Vinton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Vinton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 50 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.