Athens County, OH Environment & Hazard Risk

• LandslideRelatively Low$32.42K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$314K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$999K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$449K/yr expected annual loss, about 46 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$353K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.9 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$609K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$93.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 44 years
• EarthquakeVery Low$236K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 992 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$88.65K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.3 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Low$699K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$28.72K/yr expected annual loss, about 8.4 events a year
• Cold waveVery Low$192K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.5 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$4,131/yr expected annual loss, about once every 17,173 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

166 of 19,573 (0.9%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

2,430

Insured in high-risk zones

144 (6%)

Flood claims since 1978

422

Claims paid since 1978

$5.36M

• Thunderstorm Wind191
• Hail83
• Flood83
• Flash Flood55 · 1 death
• Winter Weather29 · 2 deaths
• Heavy Snow25
• Cold/Wind Chill23
• Strong Wind18
• Winter Storm16
• High Wind16

• Flash Flood05/05/2012

  Nelsonville, Athens County

  1 death, $250K damage

  What happened

  Small streams across the northern portion of the county flooded. ||An elderly couple was driving home along Linscott Run. This is a small tributary to Federal Creek near Amesville. Close to home, the husband decided to stop his vehicle and wait out some high water. Their vehicle became surrounded by rising water. The couple made an attempt to walk to nearby higher ground. The wife was using a walker due to recent hip surgery. She slipped and the husband could not hold on to her. The current swept her away. The fire department located her body around dawn on the 5th, about a half mile downstream. The husband was helped to safety by neighbors using a garden hose. Route 550 was also flooded in Amesville. ||Several streets in Nelsonville were flooded including along Dorr Run and Pleasant View Road. Large dump rocks, used in the bypass construction, were even moved by the water. A wall to a garage was knocked over by the water. A house foundation was damaged.||A vehicle was flooded along Margaret Creek near Albany. The occupants were unhurt at a nearby home when the local fire department arrived.

• Winter Weather01/08/2018

  Athens

  1 death

  What happened

  A combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain created slippery travel conditions across portions of southeast Ohio on the morning of the 8th as an upper level disturbance pulled a stream of Gulf moisture north. This moisture moved over a very cold air mass, resulting in the wintry mix of precipitation. Multiple traffic accidents occurred due to icy roads. One resulted in a fatality, in Athens County a semi truck driver lost control and slid over a bridge falling onto the road below. The driver, a 56 year old man from Georgia, died in the accident.

• Winter Weather01/06/2014

  Athens

  1 death

  What happened

  An arctic cold front sweep through southeast Ohio just after midnight on Monday the 6th. Rain showers and temperatures in the 40s quickly became snow showers with temperatures falling through the 20s by the predawn hours.||During these predawn hours, an Athens County woman with mental health issues went outside in Knollwood Trailer Park. This mobile home park was located just southwest of the city of Athens. She apparently slipped and fell a few times on driveways. Detectives concluded she staggered and collapsed in a yard. She was not found until after daybreak and likely died of exposure.||Snow accumulations across southeast Ohio were less than 2 inches. Temperatures continued to fall during the day on the 6th, with blustery winds. Readings reached down to either side of zero by sunset. ||Temperatures at dawn on the 7th were mostly 5 below zero to 10 below zero. Wind chill readings bottomed out around minus 25 degrees overnight and into the morning hours.||Despite sunshine, temperatures were slow to rise during the day on the 7th. However, the wind did subside during the mid and late afternoon.||A scattering of frozen pipes, power outages, home furnace...

• High Wind08/09/2000

  Athens, Athens County

  8 injured, $20K damage

  What happened

  Thunderstorm wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph caused tree damage and collapsed a county fair tent. The tent collapsed during the swine judging, with as many as 400 people inside. Many of those caught in the tent, appeared stunned, but calm. Eight people received minor injuries. No animals were hurt. One witness said., " It was the best example I've seen of everyone working together." The nearby anemometer at the Scalia Lab on the Ohio University campus reported a wind gust of 41 mph. In a related incident, an indirect death occurred while a 74 old man lost control of his tractor and it overturned. He was trying to take shelter from the midday storm. He was 60 feet from his residence on Hooper Ridge Road, near Amesville.

• Thunderstorm Wind87 kt wind09/17/2010

  Floodwood, Athens County

  6 injured, $2M damage

  What happened

  The upstream tornado lifted, as the rear flank downdraft of the rotating thunderstorm took over. This downburst became the dominant feature in The Plains and around the community of Athens. The width of the damage path widened to about a quarter of a mile. Winds were estimated as high as 100 mph in The Plains. As the storm approached, soccer players, fans, coaches, and referees took shelter in the locker rooms, the wrestling rooms, and the lounge for teachers at Athens County High School. About a dozen adults took shelter in the concession stand. A few of these parents were injured when the roof was heavily damaged. The light poles, the press box, and the scoreboard were also damaged or destroyed. On the roof of the high school, large air condition units were blown off and damaged parked cars. Several homes were destroyed or damaged. Roof damage was widespread. As the wind reached the eastern sections of the town of Athens, the maximum wind gusts were estimated at 80 to 100 mph. The last significant damage was to an automobile service and towing garage. The total distance of this downburst was on the order of 10 miles. A total of 6 people were injured. About 17...

• TornadoEF2, 3.3 mi path, 300 yd wide09/17/2010

  Kimberly, Athens County

  7 injured, $750K damage

  What happened

  A tornado touchdown was along Kimberly Road, about 4 miles from Nelsonville. The tornado reached maximum intensity along Matheny Road to State Route 691. Matheny Road is also called York Township Road 269. Damage was concentrated along Matheny Road and State Route 691. The low level circulation was evident in the damage along Matheny Road. Debris was strewn one way on the south side of the road, then in the opposite direction on the north side. One resident said, you could see stuff flying through the air. Then the noise got real loud and we ran into the house and into a closet. The house was just shaking. Several mobile homes were completely destroyed. Yet, some of these mobile homes were poorly anchored or not anchored at all. Many large softwood trees were uprooted or snapped at their trunks. Reports were received of several cows being lifted by the tornado. A hay bale weighing 1800 pounds was lofted into the air and set back down. The maximum wind gusts were estimated at 120 to 130 mph. A total of 7 people were injured. About 13 homes were destroyed, with dozens of other homes damaged.||Since 1950, this is only the second confirmed tornado in Athens County....

• Flash Flood07/21/2026

  Redtown, Athens County

  $1,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/21/2026

  Nelsonville, Athens County

  $2,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/21/2026

  Nelsonville, Athens County

  $2,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/21/2026

  Doanville, Athens County

  $2,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/18/2026

  Albany, Athens County

  $1,500 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind45 kt wind07/06/2026

  Garden, Athens County

  $1,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/05/2026

  Coolville Station, Athens County

  $5,000 damage

• Flash Flood06/18/2026

  Albany, Athens County

• Athens PwsServes 32,725 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Le-Ax Regional Water District PwsServes 19,311 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Nelsonville PwsServes 6,656 · Groundwater · Local government9 health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Sunday Creek Valley Water PwsServes 5,451 · Purchased groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Athens Co., the Plains S.D. 1 PwsServes 3,276 · Purchased groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Burr Oak Regional Water DistrictServes 1,994 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Glouster Public Water SystemServes 1,659 · Purchased groundwater · Private1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• ChaunceyServes 1,428 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting