Natural hazards · Port Clinton

Port Clinton, OH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Port Clinton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 151 claims here since 1978. 1 federal disaster brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Port Clinton?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Port Clinton to be higher than in 27% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding59%Tornadoes18%Strong wind7%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Port Clinton faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

59% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 38% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

18% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Port Clinton flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Port Clinton, from FEMA’s records.

151paid claims since 1978

$1.5Mpaid to owners

16homes flooded more than once

19782026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Port Clinton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Ottawa County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

29homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Port Clinton

1 federal disaster brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Port Clinton itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Port Clinton.

Brought FEMA money into Port ClintonDeclared for Ottawa County only

2002

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

144 households applied for aid $163K aid approved

Ottawa County has had 11 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Port Clinton

Port Clinton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Baymostly inland floodingHigh

Eriemostly inland floodingModerate

Port Clintonmostly inland floodingLow

Portagemostly inland floodingLow

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Port Clinton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Port Clinton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Port Clinton. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Port Clinton total about $950K a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.