Flood Help Guide

Ohio flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

28,417NFIP flood claims since 1978
$372.6 millionPaid on those claims
$29,927Average paid claimlast 10 years
0.4%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
18Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 28,417 flood insurance claims in Ohio since 1978. The NFIP paid $372.6 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 2004, with 2,223, mostly from Tropical Storm Ivan.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 2,933 claims, and the average paid claim was $29,927.

27% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 0.4% of homes in Ohio had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (18,040 of 4,322,423 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 16% (12,183 of 73,981).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 18 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Ohio. The most recent was DR-4945-OH (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides), declared October 2, 2026.

Open FEMA registration in Ohio: DR-4945-OH (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides): apply by December 1, 2026. See how to apply for FEMA assistance.

Flood insurance claims in Ohio by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Ohio, 1978 to 202606251.2k1.9k2.5k1978: 887 claims, $2.3 million paid1979: 1,765 claims, $5.3 million paid1980: 909 claims, $2.7 million paid19801981: 1,024 claims, $3.8 million paid1982: 1,089 claims, $6.0 million paid1983: 180 claims, $627,422 paid1984: 220 claims, $584,915 paid1985: 726 claims, $4.4 million paid1986: 196 claims, $526,085 paid1987: 418 claims, $1.9 million paid1988: 39 claims, $220,661 paid1989: 375 claims, $2.1 million paid1990: 698 claims, $4.1 million paid19901991: 130 claims, $431,626 paid1992: 269 claims, $1.5 million paid1993: 145 claims, $897,038 paid1994: 472 claims, $6.2 million paid1995: 257 claims, $1.8 million paid1996: 557 claims, $4.1 million paid1997: 1,692 claims, $25.9 million paid1998: 1,246 claims, $14.7 million paid1999: 72 claims, $396,457 paid2000: 342 claims, $2.1 million paid20002001: 233 claims, $3.8 million paid2002: 164 claims, $1.4 million paid2003: 774 claims, $12.0 million paid2004: 2,223 claims, $36.3 million paid2005: 1,106 claims, $10.7 million paid2006: 745 claims, $21.6 million paid2007: 1,526 claims, $46.2 million paid2008: 874 claims, $10.5 million paid2009: 276 claims, $2.1 million paid2010: 161 claims, $2.0 million paid20102011: 1,615 claims, $30.1 million paid2012: 196 claims, $3.0 million paid2013: 678 claims, $14.2 million paid2014: 588 claims, $12.8 million paid2015: 534 claims, $7.9 million paid2016: 83 claims, $697,705 paid2017: 410 claims, $5.4 million paid2018: 475 claims, $10.9 million paid2019: 388 claims, $9.0 million paid2020: 484 claims, $13.5 million paid20202021: 203 claims, $4.2 million paid2022: 187 claims, $2.5 million paid2023: 126 claims, $3.5 million paid2024: 160 claims, $5.1 million paid2025: 185 claims, $7.5 million paid2026: 315 claims, $3.4 million paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
2026315$3.4 million
2025185$7.5 million
2024160$5.1 million
2023126$3.5 million
2022187$2.5 million
2021203$4.2 million
2020484$13.5 million
2019388$9.0 million
2018475$10.9 million
2017410$5.4 million
201683$697,705
2015534$7.9 million
2014588$12.8 million
2013678$14.2 million
2012196$3.0 million
20111,615$30.1 million
2010161$2.0 million
2009276$2.1 million
2008874$10.5 million
20071,526$46.2 million
2006745$21.6 million
20051,106$10.7 million
20042,223$36.3 million
2003774$12.0 million
2002164$1.4 million
2001233$3.8 million
2000342$2.1 million
199972$396,457
19981,246$14.7 million
19971,692$25.9 million
1996557$4.1 million
1995257$1.8 million
1994472$6.2 million
1993145$897,038
1992269$1.5 million
1991130$431,626
1990698$4.1 million
1989375$2.1 million
198839$220,661
1987418$1.9 million
1986196$526,085
1985726$4.4 million
1984220$584,915
1983180$627,422
19821,089$6.0 million
19811,024$3.8 million
1980909$2.7 million
19791,765$5.3 million
1978887$2.3 million

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Ohio, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Late winter storms2011963$21.2 million
Flooding19971,108$21.0 million
Tropical Storm Ivan20041,003$19.5 million
Flooding1998531$8.4 million
Central U.S. April Flooding2025120$5.3 million
Flooding1985552$3.7 million
Flooding1990413$2.7 million
Flooding1981490$2.5 million
Flooding1996262$2.2 million
Tropical Storm Erin200781$2.0 million

Flood history by county

Every Ohio county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredFlood declarations
Hancock County2,049$38.6 million1.4%3
Hamilton County1,950$34.1 million0.4%5
Cuyahoga County1,730$35.3 million0.2%5
Franklin County1,399$8.4 million0.3%5
Ottawa County1,384$9.5 million2.1%1
Washington County1,302$18.3 million1.2%6
Lucas County1,201$7.7 million0.6%3
Erie County1,103$8.3 million1.2%2
Lake County882$12.7 million0.5%2
Summit County817$13.0 million0.4%3
Belmont County653$7.8 million0.4%6
Clermont County623$10.2 million0.4%5
Lorain County538$7.1 million0.5%3
Butler County474$4.6 million0.5%2
Lawrence County467$4.7 million0.9%5
Putnam County461$10.1 million0.8%3
Stark County456$8.3 million0.2%5
Athens County422$5.4 million0.8%7
Trumbull County405$3.7 million0.4%2
Licking County400$4.4 million0.6%5
Jefferson County397$4.0 million0.5%8
Guernsey County373$8.4 million0.4%6
Montgomery County347$2.1 million0.5%3
Defiance County330$2.4 million0.3%1
Richland County329$9.8 million0.2%5
Scioto County318$2.7 million0.7%6
Fairfield County311$2.9 million0.8%2
Mahoning County305$2.8 million0.2%5
Medina County290$4.7 million0.3%4
Meigs County273$2.5 million1.1%6
Allen County259$4.1 million0.4%3
Marion County240$3.2 million0.7%2
Wood County210$1.6 million0.3%1
Warren County209$2.2 million0.6%2
Jackson County193$3.0 million0.4%5
Tuscarawas County192$1.2 million0.5%4
Morgan County185$2.0 million0.5%7
Muskingum County182$2.2 million0.3%6
Gallia County176$1.6 million1.0%5
Wayne County175$2.8 million0.3%2
Noble County174$2.9 million0.7%7
Henry County163$1.3 million0.4%2
Hocking County157$2.2 million0.8%6
Greene County156$1.6 million0.7%2
Adams County155$1.4 million0.3%7
Crawford County154$2.8 million0.2%5
Miami County150$2.3 million0.7%3
Brown County149$1.8 million0.4%6
Ashtabula County146$2.0 million0.2%3
Sandusky County145$826,3190.5%2
Perry County137$1.8 million0.6%8
Clark County136$4.3 million0.5%2
Wyandot County127$2.5 million1.1%3
Ross County125$1.2 million0.3%5
Auglaize County124$2.3 million0.6%4
Seneca County123$1.9 million0.3%3
Holmes County120$657,0190.3%3
Logan County117$1.4 million0.9%4
Columbiana County116$892,2930.2%7
Monroe County108$1.2 million0.3%7
Pike County105$1.7 million0.6%7
Delaware County101$995,2420.3%3
Shelby County97$1.6 million0.7%3
Mercer County96$1.3 million0.4%4
Harrison County90$527,4230.4%5
Portage County85$863,3280.4%3
Geauga County73$1.5 million0.3%3
Huron County71$800,6980.3%3
Pickaway County71$707,7350.3%3
Knox County65$263,6790.5%3
Coshocton County60$216,3230.3%3
Ashland County58$761,6590.4%2
Union County56$430,0940.3%2
Preble County48$371,7660.5%1
Champaign County38$252,2880.4%2
Van Wert County36$230,9440.3%3
Darke County35$237,5840.3%4
Fulton County34$165,8450.3%1
Paulding County34$238,6110.6%2
Williams County32$763,8380.2%1
Carroll County31$613,6610.4%4
Madison County22$149,4440.3%1
Fayette County20$24,0460.2%2
Hardin County17$329,5160.5%3
Clinton County16$206,0550.4%1
Vinton County15$162,5470.1%5
Morrow County9$71,3450.2%2
Highland County2$11,9920.0%2

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Ohio

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4945-OH Oct 2, 2026 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides Apply by Dec 1, 2026 →
DR-4447-OH Jun 18, 2019 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide Yes
DR-4424-OH Apr 8, 2019 Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides No
DR-4360-OH Apr 17, 2018 Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4098-OH Jan 3, 2013 Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy No
DR-4002-OH Jul 13, 2011 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1720-OH Aug 27, 2007 Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes Yes
DR-1656-OH Aug 1, 2006 Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-1651-OH Jul 2, 2006 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-1580-OH Feb 15, 2005 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides Yes
DR-1556-OH Sep 19, 2004 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1519-OH Jun 3, 2004 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1507-OH Jan 26, 2004 Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides Yes
DR-1484-OH Aug 1, 2003 Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds Yes
DR-1478-OH Jul 15, 2003 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1390-OH Aug 27, 2001 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1339-OH Aug 21, 2000 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1321-OH Mar 7, 2000 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.