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Wayne County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
32nd of 88highest risk in Ohio
$22Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wayne County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 65% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $190 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (126 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.8 million on 175 claims here, including $1.6 million for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Wayne County

$12.9 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3 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

Moderate
$1.6 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 floodingLow71.9
$13M
TornadoModerate76.1
$3M
HailModerate90.2
$2M
Strong windModerate81.3
$1M
Cold waveLow52.4
$947K
Heat waveLow68.1
$767K
LightningModerate76.0
$566K
Ice stormHigh82.8
$464K
EarthquakeVery Low56.5
$354K
Winter weatherHigh86.0
$272K
HurricaneVery Low52.1
$81K
WildfireVery Low38.8
$22K
LandslideVery Low40.4
$618
DroughtVery Low14.3
$336

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 moderate 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 Wayne County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

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
Nov 18, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor 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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 491 storm reports in Wayne County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 17 injuries and about $76.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on September 16, 2010 near Wooster.

25tornadoes
143hail reports, largest 3 inches
287damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 16, 2010EF2Wooster0 / 0
Nov 12, 2003F2Wooster3 / 0
May 14, 1957F2–3 / 0
May 10, 1973F2–2 / 0
May 15, 1968F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 16, 2010TornadoWooster$35M
Nov 12, 2003TornadoWooster$21M
Jul 21, 2019Flash FloodMaysville$8M
May 21, 2004Flash FloodNorth Portion$1M
Jun 22, 2006Thunderstorm WindCountywide$950K
Jul 10, 2013Flash FloodApple Creek$850K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Wayne County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (126 policies)
15.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.8 millionpaid on 175 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $1.6 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 Wayne County

$222,100median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.7%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; 46,954 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
Stark CountyModerate10
Medina CountyLow12
Ashland CountyLow9
Holmes CountyLow10

Cities in Wayne County

Common questions about Wayne County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wayne County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wayne County, about $12.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Wayne County had?

Wayne County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Wayne County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd 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 Wayne County?

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

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Wayne County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on September 16, 2010 near Wooster. The weather service has also logged 143 hail reports and 31 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.