Enter any address in Geauga County, Ohio to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Geauga County. Between 2000 and 2024, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 27 flash flood events compared to 3 general flood events. Recent examples include heavy rainfall on August 8, 2024, and August 23, 2023, which caused significant flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A, which are designated as high-risk flood areas, have experienced an average water depth of 8.9 feet. While Zone X areas have seen more claims (27), the average payout was higher ($27,589) than in Zone A ($20,381), with an average water depth of -0.3 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in areas with a history of flash flooding, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Geauga County, Ohio has recorded 30 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 27 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Record Snow And Near Record Snow | Snowstorm | Mar 7, 2008 |
| Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 27, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 27, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 18, 2004 |
| Power Outage | Other | Aug 14, 2003 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 12, 1992 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 23, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 7, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2017 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2015 | 225.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2014 | 150.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2010 | 4.50M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2008 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2006 | 30K |
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2024
A surface trough was oriented south to north across northeast Ohio during the afternoon and early evening of August 8th, 2024, with then Tropical Depression Debby centered over the Carolinas. Strong tropical moisture advection northwestward into the area and modest mixed layer CAPE (1000 j/kg) allowed for thunderstorm development throughout the mid afternoon into the early evening hours, with t...
Flash Flood — Aug 23, 2023
An anomalously-warm and moist air mass was in place across much of the Central Plains and Midwest, resulting in strong to perhaps extreme instability in addition to tropical-like precipitable water values exceeding 2.0 inches. The Lower Great Lakes region, specifically northern Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania found itself on the eastern edge of this heat dome. Strong northwest flow aloft persis...
Flash Flood — Sep 7, 2020
A cold front moved slowly southward across Lake Erie and northern Ohio into a moist environment early Labor Day morning. A strong jet aloft fueled persistent moisture advection along with significant backbuilding and training of thunderstorms across the area between about 6am and 6pm Monday. This resulted in a widespread 2-5��� of rain with isolated amounts even higher. Later that afterno...
Flash Flood — May 28, 2017
A warm front lifted across the region on the afternoon of Sunday the 28th. Convection developed along and behind this feature. The most intense storms and concentration was along the lake breeze boundary extending from Cleveland eastward. This allowed for training and an increased risk of flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2015
A large cluster of thunderstorms developed across northern Ohio ahead of a cold front and associated upper level low dropping south across the Great Lakes Region. The airmass ahead of the front was moist and thunderstorms produced a combination of damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding. In Geauga County, heavy rainfall caused flash flooding from Bainbridge Township north to Novelty. S...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Geauga County, Ohio:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Geauga County, Ohio that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.