Natural Disaster Risk in Clark County

Natural Hazard Profile: Clark County, Ohio

Clark County, in the United States in Ohio, is characterized by its humid continental climate — cold winters with lake-effect snow in the north and warm, humid summers. The county faces spring tornado risk and winter ice storms, and its FEMA risk assessment establishes the hazard baseline shared by all the towns and cities it contains.

Clark County's overall natural disaster risk is rated 6.7/10 (High) by FEMA's National Risk Index. Freezing rain and ice accretion are the primary winter hazard, with glaze ice events capable of downing power lines, snapping tree limbs, and making roads impassable for days. Secondary hazards include tornado and hail.

Within Ohio, Clark County's risk is, slightly above the 5.8/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks well above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Clark County identifies ice storm as the foremost hazard, followed by tornado and hail. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

With a high natural disaster risk rating, Clark County residents benefit from taking preparedness seriously. Reviewing insurance coverage for ice storm and secondary hazards, registering for emergency alerts, and maintaining a household emergency kit are practical steps that can significantly reduce impact during a major event.