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Williams County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
58th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$12Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Williams County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 58th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $337 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Only 40 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $764,000 on 32 claims here.

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

Top risks in Williams County

$6.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.7 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow51.8
$6M
TornadoModerate74.4
$3M
Strong windModerate80.2
$1M
Cold waveLow47.4
$761K
HailModerate73.6
$585K
EarthquakeLow63.0
$480K
LightningLow44.4
$171K
Heat waveVery Low33.8
$148K
Ice stormModerate62.8
$135K
DroughtLow45.2
$90K
Winter weatherLow38.1
$38K
HurricaneVery Low31.9
$15K
WildfireVery Low12.1
$4K
LandslideVery Low41.7
$652

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 Williams County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood2
Severe Storm2
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1996FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 26, 1982Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency

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 196 storm reports in Williams County since 1957, with 1 death and 25 injuries and about $31.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1991.

9tornadoes
43hail reports, largest 2 inches
138damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 27, 1991F3–18 / 0
May 6, 1961F3–0 / 0
Aug 25, 1965F2–1 / 0
Jul 4, 1957F2–0 / 0
Aug 22, 1964F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 27, 1991Tornado–$25M
May 17, 1996Flash FloodWilliams County$3M
Aug 25, 1965Tornado–$3M
Jul 4, 1957Tornado–$250K
Jun 23, 2010Thunderstorm WindEdgerton$200K
Jun 19, 2002LightningStryker$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 22, 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 Williams County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (40 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$763,838paid on 32 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $431,828 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 Williams County

$150,000median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.5%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; 16,564 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
Hillsdale County, MILow6
DeKalb County, INVery Low13
Fulton CountyVery Low7
Defiance CountyVery Low6
Steuben County, INVery Low10
Henry CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Williams County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Williams County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Williams County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Williams County had?

Williams County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Williams County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 58th 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 Williams County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Williams 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 Williams County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Williams County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1991. The weather service has also logged 43 hail reports and 5 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.