Enter any address in Sandusky County, Ohio to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Sandusky County, with 27 flood events and 12 flash flood events recorded in the last 30 years. Recent examples include flash flooding on August 24, 2023, attributed to an anomalously warm and moist air mass. Lakeshore flooding, driven by wind patterns over Lake Erie, has also occurred, such as on May 16, 2020, when persistent northeast winds caused water level rises.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $4,509 and an average water depth of 3.8 feet. However, properties in Zone X, despite fewer claims, have seen significantly higher average payouts of $16,099, with an average water depth of 1.8 feet. Residents in Zone A, Zone X, and those located near Lake Erie or waterways should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
22 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sandusky County, Ohio has recorded 49 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods and 27 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations, 2 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 21, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 22, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 27, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Nov 10, 2002 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 24, 1998 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Jan 26, 1978 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 24, 2023 | 150.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | Mar 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | May 16, 2020 | 250.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | Jun 14, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | May 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | Jun 6, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | May 5, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2019 | 1.00M |
| Flood | Nov 18, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 24, 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...
Lakeshore Flood — Mar 22, 2020
The western basin of Lake Erie from Lucas to Erie Counties was under a lakeshore flood warning on the evening of March 22nd into the early morning of the 23rd as an area of low pressure passed to the southeast of the lake. Persistent winds out of the northeast at 15 to 25 knots with higher gusts lasted for 24 hours, resulting in increased lake levels and high 2 to 4 foot breaking waves. Minor ...
Lakeshore Flood — May 16, 2020
A strengthening area of high pressure of James Bay extended down over Lake Erie. At the same time, an area of low pressure over the Central Plains increased the pressure gradient over the local area resulting in increased winds out of the east northeast. This persistent wind lead to water level rises in the western basin.||Water levels at Marblehead were elevated during a period of persistent n...
Lakeshore Flood — Jun 14, 2020
High pressure built over Ontario and lingered for several days. A persistent east northeast wind around 15 to 20 knots started late on the evening of the 12th and continued and increased in speed on the 14th. Speeds gradually diminished but directions remained out of the east northeast on the 15th. The result of this persistent wind was a piling of water over the western basin and exasperated l...
Lakeshore Flood — May 12, 2020
High pressure built over the Ohio Valley that resulted in a rapid wind shift from the northwest to the northeast around midnight of the 12th. Speeds were under 10 knots, however the change in direction allowed for a slosh effect with the higher water levels on the eastern basin. Water level at Toledo reached 75.6 inches at 1:42 AM in a slosh event.
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 Sandusky 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 Sandusky 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.