Lawrence County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39087 · population 58,183 · 453 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 595 records for Lawrence County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 419 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (208 records). The deadliest single record is the April 21, 2002 flood, filed for the forecast zone Lawrence, which covers the county: 1 death and $16,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1978, 14 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
- 595on 419 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 26 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $56Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest F5
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 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 Lawrence County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 208 since 1968. 54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 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 | 208 | 126 | 1968-2026 | 0 | 1 | $4.8M | 68 of 88 |
| Floods | 106 | 93 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $38M | 9 of 88 |
| Hail | 94 | 58 | 1975-2025 | 0 | 0 | $814K | 42 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 56 | 56 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | 61 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 33 | 33 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $364K | 6 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 31 | 31 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $147K | 28 of 88 |
| Heat | 19 | 19 | 1997-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 88 |
| Drought | 18 | 18 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 14 | 14 | 1998-2009 | 0 | 0 | $62K | 2 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 7 | 1968-2024 | 0 | 2 | $9.7M | 76 of 88 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2003-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 88 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 3 | $52K | 27 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 Lawrence County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Lawrence County from 1968 to 2024, the strongest rated F5, with 0 deaths and 2 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Lawrence County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 7 people, 0 of them in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-02 | Hanging Rock, Lawrence County | EF1 1.11 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 1 | $94K |
| 2024-04-02 | Aid, Lawrence County | EF1 1.09 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 2024-04-02 | Kitchen, Lawrence County | EF1 0.44 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2017-05-24 | Coryville, Lawrence County | EF1 3.04 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $120K |
| 2000-08-09 | Athalia, Lawrence County | F1 2.2 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $343K |
| 1981-06-21 | Lawrence County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1980-07-12 | Lawrence County | F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1980-06-02 | Lawrence County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1968-04-23 | Lawrence County | F5 3.6 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | $30 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 Lawrence County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($6,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindKitts Hill, Lawrence County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindCoryville, Lawrence County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindEllisonville, Lawrence County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-24 | Flash FloodVernon, Lawrence County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindCebee, Lawrence County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Strong WindLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 39 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-04-21 | FloodLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence Warm frontal rains of 1.5 to 2.5 inches were common in about an 18 hour period on the 21st. McArthur measured 2.27 inches, Gallipolis had 2 inches. Isolated amounts over 3 inches were likely. Roads were closed in the usual low spots by overflowing small streams. Jackson County Sheriff's department reported a mobile ... | 1 | 0 | $16K | |
| 2000-07-11 | FloodScottown, Lawrence County An eleven year old boy drowned in Indian Guyan Creek, swollen by the rains of the preceding evening. Rains of 2 to 3 inches were common in the vicinity, with Lesage measuring 3.1 inches, Willow Wood at 2.35 inches and Hogsett, West Virginia with 2.48 inches. The location was near the covered bridge at the junction of ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2009-07-11 | LightningRoyersville, Lawrence County Three people were struck by lightning along Elizabeth Township Route 323. Four people were riding all terrain vehicles, when a downpour had them seek shelter under a tree. One of the victims said, there was no thunder or lightning. We were just trying to stay dry and the lightning just hit all at once. One woman was ... | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2024-04-02 | TornadoHanging Rock, Lawrence County A tornado that began in Greenup County, Kentucky finally crossed the Ohio River and impacted a campground on the Ohio side at Hanging Rock. More significant damage was noted here as several travel trailers were overturned, the roof was blown off of the Laidback Bar, and significant tree damage was noted in the ... | EF1 1.11 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 1 | $94K |
| 2008-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindChspk Lawrence Co Ar, Lawrence County A hangar door was ripped from its hinges. The door flipped over the building and injured a woman. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $21K |
| 1968-04-23 | TornadoLawrence County | F5 3.6 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | $30 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-07-20 | Flash FloodHanging Rock, Lawrence County | 0 | 0 | $5.4M | |
| 1997-03-01 | Flash FloodCountywide, Lawrence County | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | |
| 1997-03-02 | FloodLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | |
| 2010-05-02 | FloodPine Grove, Lawrence County | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | |
| 2003-02-16 | Ice StormLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2004-09-17 | FloodLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2002-03-20 | FloodLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2008-06-04 | FloodWaterloo, Lawrence County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
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, Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 25 | 28 | 58 | 83 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 15 | 23 | 31 | 37 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 31 | 28 | 12 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 10 | 18 | 23 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 10 | 8 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 9 | 7 | 13 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 54 · Feb 64 · Mar 51 · Apr 62 · May 57 · Jun 101 · Jul 92 · Aug 38 · Sep 18 · Oct 14 · Nov 19 · Dec 25 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lawrence County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Lawrence County: 12 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and flood (4).
| 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 |
| 1990-06-06 | DR-870 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
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 Lawrence County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 106 flood or flash flood records for Lawrence County from 1996 to 2026, on 93 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Lawrence County ranks 534th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.7 million on 467 claims filed in Lawrence County; the most in one year was 100 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 47 · 1979: 31 · 1980: 2 · 1982: 1 · 1989: 4 · 1990: 5 · 1991: 9 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 24 · 1997: 100 · 1998: 15 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 15 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 26 · 2003: 17 · 2004: 25 · 2005: 6 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 12 · 2009: 8 · 2010: 29 · 2011: 38 · 2012: 2 · 2014: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 14 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 3; 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 Lawrence County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lawrence County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $27.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.8M | 4.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $38K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $22M | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $207K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $317K | 48 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $76K | 8.5 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 9 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $380K | 1.7 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lawrence County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis