Photo: Roland Penttila · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Ashtabula faces less hazard damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ashtabula gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #269 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2002.
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 Ashtabula 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 Ashtabula’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ashtabula, and Ashtabula’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #269 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ashtabula’s residents live in 9 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Ashtabula has less expected damage per building than 73% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Ashtabula: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ashtabula flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2002
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ashtabula, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Ashtabula isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ashtabula County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ashtabula
Disasters that paid out in Ashtabula itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Ashtabula), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$27K to the City of Ashtabula for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding356 households applied for aid$216K aid approved
Ashtabula County has had 11 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.
Old photos of Ashtabula after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ashtabula archive →Ashtabula and its neighbors
Ashtabula is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewood | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Saybrook Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Ashtabula | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ashtabula Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Ashtabula 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 Ashtabula
Is Ashtabula at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ashtabula has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #269 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ashtabula flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Ashtabula since 2002, $6K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Ashtabula 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 Ashtabula County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ashtabula?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ashtabula’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Ashtabula?
By FEMA money that reached Ashtabula, Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding (2006): 356 households applied for aid, $216K approved.
Is Ashtabula at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Ashtabula’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ashtabula.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ashtabula’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.