Enter any address in Wayne County, Ohio to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Wayne County, OH. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 27 flash flood events and 9 general flood events. For example, on August 8th, 2024, heavy rainfall associated with a surface trough and Tropical Depression Debby led to flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $23,354 and an average water depth of 2.2 feet. Properties in Zone X have also seen significant claims, with an average payout of $43,422, though with fewer claims and a lower average water depth of 0.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in Zone X_Unshaded which has seen claims with an average water depth of 5.0 feet, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
20 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wayne County, Ohio has recorded 36 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 27 flash floods and 9 river or area floods. The county has received 10 federal disaster declarations. 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 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | 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 |
| Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Feb 2, 1977 |
| Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding | Tornado | Jul 15, 1969 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 550.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Flood | May 9, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2019 | 8.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2019 | 80.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2019 | 250.00K |
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...
Flood — May 9, 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 — Jun 21, 2020
Low-level convergence along an eastward-moving surface trough axis contributed to the development of scattered thunderstorms over northern Ohio during the afternoon and early evening of the 21st. Vertical wind shear was weak. However, moderate instability and DCAPE amidst steep low-level lapse rates near 7.5C/km to 9.5C/km allowed multiple thunderstorms to generate damaging straight-line winds....
Flash Flood — Jul 21, 2019
Low pressure over west central Indiana moved slowly east in Ohio on the afternoon and evening of the 21st. The boundary slowed to a stationary front across central Ohio, becoming a catalyst for storm development. Rainfall rates of 2 to inches an hour occurred in the heaviest rainfall. The Weather Prediction Center highlighted an area along the US 30 corridor across central Ohio for a heightened...
Flash Flood — Jun 17, 2019
A stationary front supported widespread showers and thunderstorms across northern and central Ohio. During the overnight of June 16th into the morning of the 17th heavy showers developed along this boundary. Warm and humid conditions with precipitable water values around 1.75-2.0��� supported very efficient rainfall with rainfall rates exceeding 3 inches per hour. Three day totals in this...
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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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.