Brown County, OH Environment & Hazard Risk

• LandslideRelatively Low$25.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• Strong windRelatively High$1.2M/yr expected annual loss, about 2.7 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$472K/yr expected annual loss, about 50 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$490K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 543 years
• Heat waveRelatively Low$564K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.9 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$129K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• WildfireVery Low$68K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,830 years
• TornadoRelatively Low$1.2M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$140K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.2 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$52.6K/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$659K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.8 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$136K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$8,520/yr expected annual loss, about once every 95 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

91 of 22,358 (0.4%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

691

Insured in high-risk zones

84 (12%)

Flood claims since 1978

149

Claims paid since 1978

$1.8M

• Thunderstorm Wind227
• Winter Weather71
• Flash Flood62 · 4 deaths
• Flood57
• Hail54
• Winter Storm38
• Tornado18
• Heavy Snow10
• High Wind10
• Ice Storm5

• Flash Flood07/19/2015

  Eastwood, Brown County

  3 deaths, 3 injured, $3M damage

  What happened

  Thunderstorms developed across Brown County around 2100EST. A rain gauge near Red Oak received 2.4 inches of rain between 2120EST and 2205EST. Flooding started in the Georgetown area around 2140EST, when 6 people were stranded in multiple vehicles along State Route 125 due to rapidly rising water on Straight Creek. Over the next hour, numerous water rescues occurred throughout much of Brown County. By 2220EST, 3.0 inches of rain had fallen at the Red Oak gauge. Between 2200EST and 2300EST, Red Oak Creek rapidly rose out of its banks and caused widespread damage to homes and roads along the creek from Red Oak to where the creek enters the Ohio River in Ripley. Over 30 homes were affected by flood waters along Red Oak Creek. Three homes along the creek were completely destroyed and another 5 homes suffered major damage. Two adults and 4 children were in one of the houses as it was swept into the creek. One adult and two of the children were killed and the others were injured. Flash flooding continued into the early morning hours of the 19th.

• Flash Flood03/01/1997

  Countywide, Brown County

  1 death, $2M damage

  What happened

  Estimated rainfall as high as 12 inches in less than 36 hours over the southeastern part of the county caused many creeks and streams to overflow their banks. The waters rose into several homes causing evacuations to occur. Also, numerous roads were flooded and some bridges were washed out. A man was killed on State Route 763 when he climbed from his car after it became surrounded by water. He was swept away by the swift currents.

• High Wind52 kt wind09/14/2008

  Brown

  $5.2M damage

  What happened

  Strong winds of 40 to 50 miles per hour were sustained for several hours. Wind 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.

• Flood03/02/1997

  Brown

  $2M damage

  What happened

  Heavy rainfall occurred across Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky on the 1st and 2nd with areas along the Ohio river receiving up to 12 inches of rainfall. The river rose rapidly reaching a crest of 59.8 feet at Portsmouth at 1000 pm on the 4th. Flood stage is 50.0 feet. Further downstream at Meldahl Dam, the river crested at 61.3 feet at 700 pm on the 6th. Flood stage is 51.0 feet. In Cincinnati, the river crested at 64.7 feet at 1100 pm on the 5th. Many towns were flooded from Portsmouth to Cincinnati and thousands of people were evacuated from their homes for several days.

• Flash Flood07/18/2001

  Countywide, Brown County

  $586K damage

  What happened

  Damage was reported to State Route 131 and other county roads, with eight to ten bridges washed out.

• Frost/Freeze04/06/2007

  Brown

  $540K damage

  What happened

  Unseasonably warm temperatures for an extended period of time in March allowed much of the Ohio Valley to begin its agricultural growing season early. In early April, a cold snap with low temperatures dropping into the low 20s threatened agricultural interests across the region. |The full effect of these weather extremes is still yet to be known, and will not be known until the fall harvest can be compared with yields from previous years. The initial estimate of 16.74 million in crop damage was split evenly between 31 Ohio counties.

• Brown County Rural WaterServes 32,090 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Mount Orab Village PwsServes 6,607 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Georgetown Village PwsServes 4,331 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Waynoka Regional Water and Sewer DistServes 1,860 · Purchased groundwater · Private3 health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
• Sardinia Village PwsServes 952 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Hamersville Village PwsServes 925 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Fayetteville Village PwsServes 309 · Purchased groundwater · Local government1 health violation+9 monitoring or reporting