Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Allen Township than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Allen Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #901 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1978.
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
What Allen 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
Tornadoes
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.
What’s behind Allen Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Allen Township, and Allen Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C #901 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Allen Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Allen Township has more expected damage per building than 91% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Allen Township: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Allen Township flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Allen Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Allen 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: Ottawa County.The storms Allen Township remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for Ottawa County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Allen Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20153 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19782 flood claims paidThe year of Blizzards and Snowstorms, declared for Ottawa County
Ottawa County has had 10 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Allen Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Allen Township archive →Allen Township and its neighbors
Allen Township is 6th of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 128 |
| Northwood | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Jerusalem Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Clay Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Curtice | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Allen Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Benton Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
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.
Get ready for what Allen 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Allen Township
Is Allen Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Allen Township has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #901 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (9%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Allen Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Allen Township since 1978, $59K in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Allen 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 Ottawa County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Allen Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Allen Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Allen Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Allen Township’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Allen Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Allen 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.