Athens County, Ohio
Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 1 Oct 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.
The NCEI record lists 638 events for Athens County, Ohio, between 1950 and 2026; damaging wind account for the largest share.
That is 126.7 events per 100 square miles, in line with the Ohio figure of 126.7, and 102.8 per 10,000 residents against 44.0 statewide.
41 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 3 deaths and 23 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $26M and crop damage at $100K.
FEMA has designated the county in 19 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Covid-19 Pandemic (major disaster, 31 Mar 2020).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 422 claims since 1978, of which 344 were paid, totalling $5.4M (about $16K per paid claim). FEMA counts 166 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively Low" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively Low" ($25M a year across 18 hazards).
6 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 0 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.
Compared with Ohio and the United States
| Measure | Athens County | Ohio | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 638 | 51,777 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 126.7 | 126.7 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 102.8 | 44.0 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 41 | 1,442 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 3 | 460 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $26M | $8.4B | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 6.8 | 2.4 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $16K | $17K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 21.7 | 16.2 | 16.1 |
County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.
Events by decade
Trend: 395 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 207 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.
Events by type
Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.
Largest recorded events
| Date | Event type | Group | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May 2012 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $250K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 6 Jan 2014 | Winter Weather | Winter | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2018 | Winter Weather | Winter | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Aug 2000 | High Wind | Wind | — | $20K | — | — | 8 | County |
| 16 Sep 2010 | Tornado | Tornado | EF2 | $750K | — | — | 7 | County |
| 16 Sep 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 100 mph | $2.0M | — | — | 6 | County |
| 7 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 52 mph | $2K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 5 Jan 2005 | Flood | Flood | — | $4.5M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $4.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2004 | Flood | Flood | — | $3.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 May 2004 | Flood | Flood | — | $2.8M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 60 mph | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 1997 | Flood | Flood | — | $750K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Nov 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 0 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jan 2004 | Flood | Flood | — | $300K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 May 1980 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1997 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2002 | Hail | Hail | 2.00 in | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | — | $200K | — | — | — | County |
Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.
Federal disaster declarations
| Declared | Number | Type | Incident | Title | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 2020 | DR-4507 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3457 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 8 Apr 2019 | DR-4424 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides | Public assistance |
| 17 Apr 2018 | DR-4360 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides | Public assistance |
| 20 Aug 2012 | DR-4077 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds | Public assistance |
| 30 Jun 2012 | EM-3346 | Emergency | Severe Storm | Severe Storms | Public assistance |
| 13 Jul 2011 | DR-4002 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 13 Sep 2005 | EM-3250 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Public assistance |
| 15 Feb 2005 | DR-1580 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 19 Sep 2004 | DR-1556 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 3 Jun 2004 | DR-1519 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 26 Jan 2004 | DR-1507 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides | Public assistance |
| 14 Mar 2003 | DR-1453 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Record/Near Record Snow | Public assistance |
| 30 Jun 1998 | DR-1227 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 4 Mar 1997 | DR-1164 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 6 Jun 1990 | DR-870 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 26 Jan 1978 | EM-3055 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms | Public assistance |
| 2 Feb 1977 | EM-3029 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Snowstorms | Public assistance |
| 5 Jun 1968 | DR-243 | Major disaster | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.
Flood insurance claims
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Amount paid | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 2 | $34,000 | $17,000 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | $110,578 | $55,289 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | $158,678 | $79,339 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | $26,600 | $26,600 |
| 2022 | 4 | 2 | $48,836 | $24,418 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | $93,343 | $46,671 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 | $253,051 | $84,350 |
| 2018 | 6 | 5 | $166,636 | $33,327 |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 | $101,745 | $11,305 |
| 2015 | 6 | 5 | $23,633 | $4,727 |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | $10,800 | $10,800 |
| 2013 | 5 | 4 | $23,353 | $5,838 |
| 2012 | 2 | 2 | $99,437 | $49,718 |
| 2011 | 8 | 6 | $37,431 | $6,238 |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | $3,958 | $3,958 |
| 2009 | 5 | 2 | $5,016 | $2,508 |
| 2008 | 14 | 12 | $110,696 | $9,225 |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 | $612 | $612 |
| 2005 | 50 | 42 | $677,239 | $16,125 |
| 2004 | 110 | 97 | $1,743,281 | $17,972 |
| 2003 | 4 | 3 | $5,282 | $1,761 |
| 2002 | 3 | 3 | $7,487 | $2,496 |
| 2001 | 4 | 2 | $1,013 | $507 |
| 2000 | 8 | 8 | $26,826 | $3,353 |
| 1998 | 57 | 55 | $1,093,925 | $19,890 |
OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).
National Risk Index
| Hazard (NRI) | Risk rating | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | $21,368,610 | |
| Heat wave | $998,749 | |
| Tornado | $698,980 | |
| Strong wind | $608,655 | |
| Lightning | $448,973 | |
| Hail | $352,684 | |
| Ice storm | $314,497 | |
| Earthquake | $236,283 | |
| Cold wave | $191,940 | |
| Hurricane | $93,803 | |
| Drought | $88,653 | |
| Landslide | $32,416 | |
| Winter weather | $28,717 | |
| Wildfire | $4,131 |
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.
Hurricane and tropical storm passes
| Storm | Year | Closest approach | Max wind while within 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opal | 1995 | 82 mi | 46 mph |
| Hugo | 1989 | 59 mi | 46 mph |
| Frederic | 1979 | 57 mi | 40 mph |
| Audrey | 1957 | 61 mi | 46 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1915 | 81 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1888 | 40 mi | 52 mph |
HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.
ZIP codes with flood claims
ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.
Questions and answers
How often does it hail in Athens County, OH?
NCEI records 93 hail events in Athens County since 1950, in 31 different years; that is about 1.2 recorded events a year. 9 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Athens County had a tornado?
Yes. NCEI records 4 tornadoes in Athens County since 1950, 1 of them rated (E)F2 or stronger. Tornado deaths recorded: 0.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Athens County?
31 Mar 2020: Covid-19 Pandemic, a major disaster declaration for biological. The county appears in 19 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Athens County, and how much was paid?
422 NFIP claims since 1978, 344 of them paid, for $5.4M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Athens County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively Low" for overall risk, "Relatively Low" for expected annual loss, "Relatively Moderate" for social vulnerability and "Relatively Moderate" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Athens County compare with the rest of Ohio?
126.7 recorded events per 100 square miles against 126.7 statewide, and 6.8 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 2.4. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.
Provenance
Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 1 Oct 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 1 Oct 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.