Perry County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39127 · population 35,327 · 408 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 551 records for Perry County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 393 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (228 records). The deadliest single record is the June 29, 2012 thunderstorm wind: 1 death and $1.3 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1968, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides” on October 2, 2026.
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
- 551on 393 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 113 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $33Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 20latest 2026
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 Perry County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 228 since 1971. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1971 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 | 228 | 131 | 1971-2026 | 1 | 2 | $3.6M | 53 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 71 | 71 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $112K | 43 of 88 |
| Hail | 69 | 53 | 1989-2026 | 0 | 0 | $70K | 41 of 88 |
| Floods | 67 | 54 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $10M | 34 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 37 | 37 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $97K | 1 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 30 | 30 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $250K | 25 of 88 |
| Heat | 18 | 18 | 1997-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 11 | 1965-2019 | 0 | 11 | $18M | 53 of 88 |
| Drought | 11 | 11 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 7 | 7 | 1998-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 88 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 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 Perry County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Perry County from 1965 to 2019, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 11 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Perry County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Perry County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-28 | Roseville, Perry County | EF1 1.67 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $81K |
| 2018-04-03 | Bruno, Perry County | EF0 1.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $118K |
| 2010-09-16 | Milligan, Perry County | EF1 4.19 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $338K |
| 2010-09-16 | Carthon, Perry County | EF2 6.99 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 1 | $677K |
| 2000-05-23 | Junction City, Perry County | F1 2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $317K |
| 1981-06-13 | Perry County | F2 2 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1980-08-05 | Perry County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1978-09-14 | Perry County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1978-06-27 | Perry County | F1 1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1973-05-10 | Perry County | F3 8.7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $3K step |
| 1965-05-16 | Perry County | F1 3.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 5 | $25K step |
| 1965-04-12 | Perry County | F1 3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $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 Perry County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 6, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindBristol, Perry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindBristol, Perry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindJunction City, Perry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindSomerset, Perry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindThornville, Perry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindSego, Perry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindSomerset, Perry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindZiontown, Perry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindBruno, Perry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-05-24 | Flash FloodCrooksville, Perry County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | Flash FloodCorning, Perry County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | FloodJunction City, Perry County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindThornville, Perry County Numerous large branches and trees fell across Perry County. Over 10,000 customers lost electricity. One shelter was set up in Crooksville High School in which 28 people stayed overnight. Fire houses were used as cooling stations and also to feed citizens. Some private stores gave away their foods before it would ... | 56 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 1965-05-16 | TornadoPerry County | F1 3.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 5 | $25K step |
| 1986-03-10 | Thunderstorm WindPerry County | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1981-06-13 | TornadoPerry County | F2 2 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1965-04-12 | TornadoPerry County | F1 3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2010-09-16 | TornadoCarthon, Perry County This tornado originiated in Fairfield County, but got stronger in western Perry County. The damage path widened as it crossed several north to south oriented roads. A convergent damage pattern was evident. Large trees were snapped along Avalon Road. A greater swath of tree and structural damage was along Otterbein ... | EF2 6.99 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 1 | $677K |
| 1973-05-10 | TornadoPerry County | F3 8.7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $3K 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-06-28 | Flash FloodCountywide, Perry County | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | |
| 2004-05-18 | FloodPerry County · forecast zone Perry | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2010-09-16 | TornadoCarthon, Perry County | EF2 6.99 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 1 | $677K |
| 2013-07-09 | Flash FloodJunction City, Perry County | 0 | 0 | $443K | |
| 2008-07-22 | Thunderstorm WindJunction City, Perry County | 96 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $411K |
| 2004-09-17 | FloodPerry County · forecast zone Perry | 0 | 0 | $391K | |
| 2010-09-16 | TornadoMilligan, Perry County | EF1 4.19 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $338K |
| 1997-08-17 | Flash FloodNew Straitsville, Perry County | 0 | 0 | $322K |
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 27, 1978 (tornado, Perry 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 Perry 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 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 73 | 88 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 15 | 30 | 19 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 26 | 20 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 9 | 14 | 25 | 19 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 14 | 8 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 15 | 4 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1971 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 58 · Feb 41 · Mar 50 · Apr 56 · May 67 · Jun 94 · Jul 73 · Aug 37 · Sep 17 · Oct 14 · Nov 18 · Dec 26 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Perry County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Perry County: 15 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and flood (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-02 | DR-4945 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4507 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3457 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-06-18 | DR-4447 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide |
| 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 |
| 2008-10-24 | DR-1805 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3250 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-15 | DR-1580 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1556 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-06-03 | DR-1519 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-01-26 | DR-1507 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1453 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow |
| 1998-06-30 | DR-1227 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 1990-06-06 | DR-870 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3029 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1968-06-05 | DR-243 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
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 Perry County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 67 flood or flash flood records for Perry County from 1996 to 2026, on 54 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Perry County ranks 1144th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.8 million on 137 claims filed in Perry County; the most in one year was 23 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1980: 2 · 1981: 10 · 1990: 5 · 1991: 2 · 1992: 1 · 1997: 4 · 1998: 23 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 6 · 2004: 19 · 2005: 3 · 2008: 7 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 13 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 13 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 23; 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 Perry County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Perry County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $176K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $364K | 4.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $355K | 45 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $14K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $230K | 2.7 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $307K | 2.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.6M | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $36K | 9.2 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 Perry 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 Perry CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Perry County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis