Enter any address in Seneca County, Ohio to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Seneca County. Recent events include flash flooding on July 16, 2025, caused by repeated rounds of heavy rainfall, and August 24, 2023, during a period of extreme atmospheric instability.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $9,867 and an average water depth of 5.4 feet. However, Zone X properties, despite fewer claims, have seen significantly higher average payouts of $44,796 with an average water depth of 4.1 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and properties without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
15 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Seneca County, Ohio has recorded 32 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 23 flash floods and 9 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2020)
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, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Aug 20, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2004 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 22, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 27, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Nov 10, 2002 |
| 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 | Jul 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 21, 2022 | 250.00K |
| Flood | May 11, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 13, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 23, 2013 | 40.00K |
| Flood | Dec 22, 2013 | 5.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2013 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 28, 2011 | 1.50M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2011 | 100.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2025
A weak warm front lifted north across northern Ohio early in the day on July 16, 2025, bringing a warm and unstable airmass to the region. A shortwave trough lifting northeast across the region during the day promoted scattered shower and thunderstorm activity. Repeated rounds of rainfall affected Seneca County during the day, with particularly intense rainfall during the early evening hours br...
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...
Flash Flood — Aug 21, 2022
Weak surface low pressure slowly moved across northwest Ohio over the southern shore of Lake Erie in north central Ohio during the afternoon and evening hours of August 21st. A warm front was oriented from west to east across the area just south of the lakeshore, while a trailing cold front slowly advanced eastward behind the low. In the warm sector, MUCAPE values of 1000-1500 j/kg, weak deep l...
Flood — May 11, 2021
A surface area of low pressure tracked from the high plains crossing northern Ohio on Sunday May 9th. Widespread light to moderate rain developed Sunday morning and was ongoing through much of the day. Temperatures were in the upper 30s to low 40s, and some snowflakes mixed in midday. As the system moved east, rain turned to snow in the primary snowbelt with reports up to 2��� in northwes...
Flood — Jul 13, 2017
Dew points across the region during the morning of the event were in the lower 70s with high moisture content throughout the air column. A prefrontal trough moved southward into the region during the morning hours of the 13th, triggering convection. The environment supported very high rainfall rates of 4 inches an hour or greater in strong storms. All combined conditions favored a high risk o...
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 Seneca 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 Seneca 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.