Gallia County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39053 · population 29,179 · 467 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 507 records for Gallia County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 404 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (130 records). The deadliest single record is the February 13, 2020 flood: 1 death and $5,701 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1968, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides” on April 8, 2019.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 507on 404 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 321 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $44Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest F5
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 2020
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Gallia County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 130 since 1976. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1976 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Ohio's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 130 | 100 | 1976-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.0M | 83 of 88 |
| Floods | 113 | 97 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $11M | 8 of 88 |
| Hail | 82 | 57 | 1968-2023 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | 48 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 60 | 60 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | 59 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 32 | 32 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $191K | 7 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 28 | 28 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $208K | 37 of 88 |
| Heat | 19 | 19 | 1997-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 88 |
| Drought | 18 | 18 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 14 | 14 | 1998-2011 | 1 | 0 | $21K | 3 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 8 | 1968-2024 | 0 | 20 | $24M | 75 of 88 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2003-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 88 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 0 | 1 | – | 61 of 88 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Gallia County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Gallia County from 1968 to 2024, the strongest rated F5, with 0 deaths and 20 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 8 tornadoes whose track touched Gallia County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 7 people, 0 of them in Gallia County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-04-23 15:05, as SPC files it | Gallipolis | F5 | 34 mi | 7 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Gallia County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-02 | Crown City, Gallia County | EF1 0.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 2002-05-08 | Adamsville, Gallia County | F2 3 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 3 | $5.7M |
| 2000-06-15 | Patriot, Gallia County | F2 2.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $171K |
| 1998-06-02 | Gallipolis, Gallia County | F0 0.3 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $91K |
| 1996-05-04 | Vinton, Gallia County | F1 0.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $470K |
| 1989-06-12 | Gallia County | F1 7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1980-06-02 | Gallia County | F1 9.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1968-04-23 | Gallia County | F5 20.6 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 17 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Gallia County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindVinton, Gallia County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-05-27 | Flash FloodCadmus, Gallia County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-27 | Flash FloodChipper Mills, Gallia County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-27 | Flash FloodFairfield, Gallia County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | Flash FloodBlowell, Gallia County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | Flash FloodCora, Gallia County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | Thunderstorm WindGallipolis, Gallia County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherGallia County · forecast zone Gallia | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindGallia County · forecast zone Gallia | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherGallia County · forecast zone Gallia | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Thunderstorm WindBidwell, Gallia County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-20 | Thunderstorm WindChipper Mills, Gallia County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-02-13 | FloodThurman, Gallia County Multiple roads were closed across the county due to flooding, including State Route 325, State Route 233, and State Route 141. On the evening of the 14th, a 73 year old man drowned in the flood waters at the intersection of State Route 141 and German Ridge Road. The man drove his car into the high water and was ... | 1 | 0 | $6K | |
| 2008-03-19 | Heavy RainEwington, Gallia County A man drowned along a swollen Racoon Creek and a low spot along Route 325 near the village of Vinton. Otherwise, county officials reported no flooding. According to a state report, the driver drove partially into water covering the road, but then backed out. This was at night. The driver then pulled into a nearby ... | 1 | 0 | $7K | |
| 1997-03-02 | FloodGallia County · forecast zone Gallia | 1 | 0 | $919K | |
| 1968-04-23 | TornadoGallia County | F5 20.6 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 17 | $250K step |
| 2002-05-08 | TornadoAdamsville, Gallia County A warm frontal boundary interacted with a complex of showers and thunderstorms to form a tornado on the southern flank of the precipitation. Touchdown was along Adamsville Road near Route 35. The roof was ripped off a home, 2 mobile homes were destroyed, along with a pole barn. The tornado then struck both rest areas ... | F2 3 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 3 | $5.7M |
| 2015-05-26 | LightningNorthup, Gallia County A woman was fishing along Racoon Creek off of Route 20 with her boyfriend and 4 year old child. Lightning hit a tree. A large branch hit the woman on the head. She suffered head and back injuries. | 0 | 1 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-05-08 | TornadoAdamsville, Gallia County | F2 3 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 3 | $5.7M |
| 2003-02-16 | Ice StormGallia County · forecast zone Gallia | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | |
| 1996-06-23 | Flash FloodSouthern Portion, Gallia County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 1997-03-02 | Flash FloodCountywide, Gallia County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 1998-06-02 | HailGallipolis, Gallia County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2015-07-14 | Flash FloodCrown City, Gallia County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2000-02-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Gallia County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1997-03-02 | FloodGallia County · forecast zone Gallia | 1 | 0 | $919K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 2, 1980 (tornado, Gallia County); June 12, 1989 (tornado, Gallia County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Gallia County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 22 | 28 | 39 | 32 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 15 | 24 | 36 | 38 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 25 | 9 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 11 | 20 | 24 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1976 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 56 · Feb 62 · Mar 44 · Apr 53 · May 58 · Jun 71 · Jul 52 · Aug 40 · Sep 13 · Oct 20 · Nov 12 · Dec 26 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Gallia County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Gallia County: 13 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and flood (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4507 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3457 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-04-08 | DR-4424 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2018-04-17 | DR-4360 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-08-20 | DR-4077 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3346 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2011-07-13 | DR-4002 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3250 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1556 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1453 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow |
| 2000-03-07 | DR-1321 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-03-04 | DR-1164 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-06-24 | DR-1122 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1996-01-27 | DR-1097 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1968-06-05 | DR-243 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1968-05-04 | DR-238 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Gallia County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 113 flood or flash flood records for Gallia County from 1996 to 2026, on 97 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Gallia County ranks 1017th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.6 million on 176 claims filed in Gallia County; the most in one year was 23 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 8 · 1979: 22 · 1980: 13 · 1981: 3 · 1989: 2 · 1990: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1994: 10 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 2 · 1997: 23 · 1998: 14 · 2000: 11 · 2001: 4 · 2002: 3 · 2003: 9 · 2004: 8 · 2005: 3 · 2008: 3 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 3 · 2011: 4 · 2012: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Gallia County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Gallia County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.6 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $31K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.5M | 4.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $138K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $8.9M | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $40K | 8.1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $138K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $23K | 2.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $188K | 1 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Gallia County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in OhioEvery Ohio tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in OhioThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Ohio recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Gallia CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Gallia County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis