Shelby County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39149 · population 48,215 · 408 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 535 records for Shelby County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 394 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (209 records). The deadliest single record is the April 11, 1965 tornado: 3 deaths and 50 injuries. FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1965, 13 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds” on August 20, 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
- 535on 394 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 581 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $39Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 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 Shelby County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 209 since 1971. 53% 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 | 209 | 155 | 1971-2026 | 0 | 6 | $2.0M | 36 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 123 | 123 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $70K | 12 of 88 |
| Floods | 86 | 56 | 1998-2025 | 1 | 0 | $1.2M | 30 of 88 |
| Hail | 72 | 54 | 1980-2025 | 0 | 0 | $42K | 40 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 16 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7.9M | 58 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 9 | 1961-2026 | 3 | 74 | $27M | 64 of 88 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1999-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 88 |
| Lightning | 5 | 5 | 1996-2022 | 1 | 1 | $295K | 15 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $806K | 63 of 88 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 56 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2011-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 40 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 Shelby County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Shelby County from 1961 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 3 deaths and 74 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 Shelby County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 3 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 21:00, as SPC files it | Fort Loramie | F4 | 18.4 mi | 3 |
| 1961-07-28 19:55, as SPC files it | Sidney | F3 | 0.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Shelby County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-11 | Anna, Shelby County | EF0 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $60K |
| 2026-03-11 | Anna, Shelby County | EF0 1.9 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $60K |
| 2025-07-19 | Anna, Shelby County | EF0 1.08 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2022-03-06 | Russia, Shelby County | EF0 2.52 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $101K |
| 2011-05-14 | Sidney, Shelby County | EF0 0.02 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-06-20 | Port Jefferson, Shelby County | F0 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 1981-06-08 | Shelby County | F2 1.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1973-06-28 | Shelby County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1965-04-11 | Shelby County | F4 18.4 mi x 300 yd | 3 | 50 | $2.5M step |
| 1961-07-28 | Shelby County | F3 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 22 | $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 Shelby County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindSidney Airport, Shelby County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindSidney, Shelby County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindSidney, Shelby County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindSidney, Shelby County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindFt Loramie, Shelby County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindSwanders, Shelby County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-03-15 | Strong WindShelby County · forecast zone Shelby | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindShelby County · forecast zone Shelby | 46 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindShelby County · forecast zone Shelby | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | TornadoAnna, Shelby County | EF0 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $60K |
| 2026-03-11 | TornadoAnna, Shelby County | EF0 1.9 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $60K |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindSt Patricks, Shelby County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 | TornadoShelby County | F4 18.4 mi x 300 yd | 3 | 50 | $2.5M step |
| 2022-07-06 | LightningSidney, Shelby County A truck driver was killed by lightning along I-75 while fixing a mechanical issue with his truck. M50OU. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2018-02-25 | FloodPasco, Shelby County Three children were playing by Mosquito Creek. The bank of Mosquito Creek gave way and a boy fell into the creek and drowned. M6IW. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1961-07-28 | TornadoShelby County | F3 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 22 | $250K step |
| 1995-07-26 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Shelby County Several trees and power lines were downed in numerous locations. At the county fairgrounds in Sidney, three people were injured as winds knocked tree limbs into tents. In extreme southern Shelby County, thunderstorm winds destroyed a mobile home and injured a 15-year-old girl inside. Winds also destroyed a grain bin. | 0 | 4 | $116K | |
| 1981-06-08 | TornadoShelby County | F2 1.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2020-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindFt Loramie, Shelby County A large tree fell onto a person that was camping in Lake Loramie State Park. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $2K |
| 1999-07-31 | LightningAnna, Shelby County Lightning struck a barn causing a damaging fire. It also struck a man who received minor injuries. | 0 | 1 | $35K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09-14 | High WindShelby County · forecast zone Shelby | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $7.8M |
| 2003-09-26 | Thunderstorm WindPort Jefferson, Shelby County | 90 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $241K |
| 1995-07-26 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Shelby County | 0 | 4 | $116K | |
| 2022-03-06 | TornadoRussia, Shelby County | EF0 2.52 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $101K |
| 2026-03-11 | TornadoAnna, Shelby County | EF0 1.9 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $60K |
| 1999-07-31 | LightningAnna, Shelby County | 0 | 1 | $35K | |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindJackson Center, Shelby County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2011-05-23 | Thunderstorm WindAnna, Shelby County | 67 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $13K |
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: April 11, 1965 (tornado, Shelby County, 3 killed).
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 Shelby 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 | 6 | 15 | 36 | 42 | 55 | 55 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 24 | 64 | 28 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 29 | 37 | 15 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 27 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 3 | 6 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
53% 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 48 · Feb 41 · Mar 47 · Apr 41 · May 45 · Jun 98 · Jul 89 · Aug 41 · Sep 12 · Oct 8 · Nov 22 · Dec 43 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Shelby County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Shelby County: 9 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4507 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3457 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012-08-20 | 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 |
| 2005-01-11 | EM-3198 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1556 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-07-15 | DR-1478 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1995-08-25 | DR-1065 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1992-08-04 | DR-951 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3029 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1965-04-14 | DR-191 | 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 Shelby County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 86 flood or flash flood records for Shelby County from 1998 to 2025, on 56 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Shelby County ranks 1319th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.6 million on 97 claims filed in Shelby County; the most in one year was 17 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1982: 2 · 1990: 13 · 1992: 12 · 1995: 10 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 2 · 2003: 17 · 2005: 5 · 2006: 1 · 2011: 9 · 2013: 14 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 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 Shelby County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Shelby County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $17.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $561K | 44 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $647K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $205K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.2M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $109K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $556K | 2.8 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $3.0M | once in about 443 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $9.3M | 1.9 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 Shelby 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 Shelby CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Shelby County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis