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B+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Washington Township · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Washington Township faces less hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%), then tornadoes (18%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.

Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded

less than 68%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
By hazard

What Washington Township faces

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

River and rain flooding

59%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

18%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 11 years in the area

Hail

12%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

8%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Lightning Hurricanes Winter storms Wildfire Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 10% of Washington Township’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.

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

What’s behind Washington Township’s grade

River and rain flooding is 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Washington Township, and Washington Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 12%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Washington Township sits
Washington Township
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B+ lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Washington Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding59%Tornadoes18%Hail12%Everything else12%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $457K a year in losses across Washington Township: $302K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Washington Township covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Washington Township flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Washington Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Washington Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Clinton County.
Disasters

The storms Washington Township remembers

None of the 13 disasters declared for Clinton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Washington Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.

Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Washington TownshipClinton County only

Clinton County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Next door

Washington Township and its neighbors

Washington Township is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Perry TownshipA−less damage than 75%river and rain flooding—
Washington TownshipB+less damage than 68%river and rain flooding0
Center TownshipB−less damage than 53%river and rain flooding3
Madison TownshipB−less damage than 53%river and rain flooding11
Ross TownshipB−less damage than 51%river and rain flooding—
Union Township—833 residents; we grade 1,000+

Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.

Be ready

Get ready for what Washington Township faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
  • Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
  • Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
  • A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
  • Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
  • Stay away from windows while it falls.
  • Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
  • Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
  • Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Washington Township

Is Washington Township at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Township has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%) and tornadoes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Is Washington Township in a flood zone?

Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Clinton County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Washington Township?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Washington Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

Is Washington Township at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Washington Township’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Washington Township.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Washington Township’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.