163 flood insurance claims·$1.3M paid·1 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Henry County, Ohio. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates the flood character of Henry County, complemented by river and creek overflow. According to NOAA records from the last 30 years, the county experienced 10 flash flood events and 8 flood events. Notable occurrences include a June 2019 event when thunderstorms dropped heavy rain and forced the temporary closure of roads in the eastern part of the county. Another significant event occurred in June 2015, when torrential rainfall caused Brush Creek to overflow, leading to the evacuation of a care facility in Deshler.
Federal data shows historical flood claims across multiple zones, indicating that property risk extends beyond officially designated high-risk areas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency records show 74 claims in Zone UNKNOWN with an average recorded water depth of 2 inches and an average payout of $5,708. Zone A accounts for 57 claims with an average recorded water depth of 11 inches and an average payout of $12,557. Additionally, Zone X_UNSHADED recorded 19 claims averaging an average water depth of 2 inches and an average payout of $14,122, while Zone X recorded 13 claims averaging 1 inch of water depth and an average payout of $8,503. Residents in Zone A, unshaded Zone X, and properties with unmapped or unknown zones should pay the closest attention to flood preparedness given these historical claim patterns and average water depths.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
25% of Henry County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
76 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 5 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 1982, with 26 claims and $209,393 paid, the year of Severe Storms & Flooding.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
6 NOAA storm reports from Henry County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Ohio flood stories →
10 federal disaster declarations since 1977, 1 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Dec 22, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Aug 27, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Nov 10, 2002 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Mar 12, 1982 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Jan 26, 1978 |
| Snowstorms | Feb 2, 1977 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
18 since 1996: 10 flash floods and 8 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2015 | — |
| Flood | Jun 27, 2015 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2011 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2011 | — |
| Flood | Feb 5, 2008 | $50,000 |
| Flood | Apr 20, 2000 | — |
| Flood | Jan 22, 1999 | $10,000 |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jun 1, 2019. Thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front across northern Indiana and eventually moved into northwestern Ohio. Hail occurred in several locations with flash flooding as well across Henry county where roads in the eastern part of the county were closed for a period.
Flash Flood · Jun 27, 2015. Thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall in portions of northwestern Ohio. A combination of upstream rainfall in Fort Wayne, Indiana and rainfall across Putnam county set the stage for flash flooding in the town of Payne, forcing evacuation of parts of the town as several inches of rain fell both upstream in Indiana and over the area. A similar scenario took place in Deshler (Henry county) where a care facility…
Flood · Jun 27, 2015. Thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall in portions of northwestern Ohio. A combination of upstream rainfall in Fort Wayne, Indiana and rainfall across Putnam county set the stage for flash flooding in the town of Payne, forcing evacuation of parts of the town as several inches of rain fell both upstream in Indiana and over the area. A similar scenario took place in Deshler (Henry county) where a care facility…
Flash Flood · Jun 19, 2011. A warm front was moving into northwestern Ohio during the afternoon and evening hours. Isolated thunderstorms developed, producing torrential rainfall. This combine with very slow movement caused flash flooding across portions of Henry county.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Henry County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.