Preble County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39135 · population 40,984 · 424 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 513 records for Preble County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 390 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (196 records). The deadliest single record is the September 14, 2008 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Preble, which covers the county: 2 deaths and $6.9 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1977, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms” on June 30, 2012.
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
- 513on 390 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 316 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $93Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 17strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 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 Preble County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 196 since 1961. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 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 | 196 | 140 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.1M | 48 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 131 | 131 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $990K | 10 of 88 |
| Floods | 76 | 49 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 2 | $1.2M | 44 of 88 |
| Hail | 61 | 46 | 1965-2023 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 61 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 17 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $6.9M | 56 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 17 | 16 | 1953-2024 | 0 | 0 | $80M | 34 of 88 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1999-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $806K | 66 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2011-2015 | 0 | 0 | $3K | 30 of 88 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 60 of 88 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 1 | 14 | $428K | 35 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 Preble County had?
NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Preble County from 1953 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 34th of 88 Ohio counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Preble County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 17, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-04-25 14:27, as SPC files it | Shelbyville to ConnersvilleCrossed IN, OH | F4 | 63.1 mi | 0 |
| 1992-11-22 16:00, as SPC files it | Arcanum | F3 | 20 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Preble County (17)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-24 | Kitson Corners, Preble County | EF0 1.44 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2023-03-31 | New Paris, Preble County | EF0 2.61 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $194K |
| 2019-06-15 | New Westville, Preble County | EF0 1.7 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 2019-05-19 | New Lexington, Preble County | EF0 3.64 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $346K |
| 2019-05-19 | New Hope, Preble County | EF1 4.41 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $289K |
| 2016-03-14 | Kitson Corners, Preble County | EF1 1.14 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $74K |
| 2010-10-26 | El Dorado, Preble County | EF0 0.29 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2008-01-29 | Lewisburg Gilmer Arp, Preble County | EF0 2 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 1999-07-01 | Sugar Vly, Preble County | F0 0.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $35K |
| 1992-11-22 | Preble County | F3 12 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1986-07-12 | Preble County | F2 0.1 mi x 73 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1980-04-08 | Preble County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-07-14 | Preble County | F1 0.3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1965-04-11 | Preble County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-05-27 | Preble County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-04-25 | Preble County | F4 9.5 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1953-06-13 | Preble County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Preble County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 6, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindLewisburg Gilmer Arp, Preble County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindKitson Corners, Preble County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindKitson Corners, Preble County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-27 | FloodDadsville, Preble County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-27 | FloodHamburg, Preble County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-23 | FloodWest Elkton, Preble County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindPreble County · forecast zone Preble | 44 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormPreble County · forecast zone Preble | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-28 | Thunderstorm WindWest Manchester, Preble County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-12-28 | Thunderstorm WindHamburg, Preble County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-12-13 | Winter WeatherPreble County · forecast zone Preble | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | Winter WeatherPreble County · forecast zone Preble | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09-14 | High WindPreble County · forecast zone Preble Strong winds of 40 to 50 miles per hour were sustained for several hours. Gusts over 60 mph were common. Widespread damage occurred across the region, from trees being blown down on powerlines, to significant crop losses and structural damage. A husband and wife were killed by a falling tree while riding a motorcycle ... | 58 kt wind | 2 | 0 | $6.9M |
| 2000-02-07 | Dense FogPreble County · forecast zone Preble An area of dense fog formed along Interstate 70 during the late evening hours. The dense fog was the cause of a pileup of vehicles, which led to 1 death and 14 injuries. | 1 | 14 | $428K | |
| 2012-01-26 | FloodGreen Bush, Preble County A car was swept off a driveway bridge into Elk Creek, as Elk Creek had risen beyond its banks due to heavy rain. | 0 | 2 | $19K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-11-07 | Thunderstorm WindWest Manchester, Preble County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 2003-06-15 | Flash FloodFairhaven, Preble County | 0 | 0 | $802K | |
| 2000-02-07 | Dense FogPreble County · forecast zone Preble | 1 | 14 | $428K | |
| 2019-05-19 | TornadoNew Lexington, Preble County | EF0 3.64 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $346K |
| 2019-05-19 | TornadoNew Hope, Preble County | EF1 4.41 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $289K |
| 2023-03-31 | TornadoNew Paris, Preble County | EF0 2.61 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $194K |
| 2016-03-14 | TornadoKitson Corners, Preble County | EF1 1.14 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $74K |
| 2017-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindDadsville, Preble County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $48K |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: November 22, 1992 (tornado, Preble 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 Preble 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 | 4 | 17 | 34 | 43 | 56 | 41 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 27 | 69 | 25 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 34 | 19 | 20 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
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 1961 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 46 · Feb 52 · Mar 49 · Apr 60 · May 50 · Jun 82 · Jul 75 · Aug 16 · Sep 13 · Oct 2 · Nov 17 · Dec 51 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Preble County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Preble County: 5 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4507 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3457 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 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 |
| 2005-01-11 | EM-3198 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 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 |
| 1989-06-10 | DR-831 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3029 | Snowstorm | 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 Preble County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 76 flood or flash flood records for Preble County from 1996 to 2026, on 49 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Preble County ranks 1678th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $372,000 on 48 claims filed in Preble County; the most in one year was 12 in 1999. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1986: 1 · 1989: 6 · 1995: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1999: 12 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 7 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 1 · 2008: 2 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1; 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 Preble County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Preble County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $14.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.4M | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.5M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $153K | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $577K | once in about 607 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.4M | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $913K | 4.3 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $248K | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $43K | 11 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 Preble 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 Preble CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Preble County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis