Photo: OHIO fan at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Athens Township faces more hazard damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Athens Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #935 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1981.
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 Athens 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
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 Athens Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Athens Township, and Athens Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C #935 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Athens Township’s residents live in 10 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, Athens Township has more expected damage per building than 94% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.1M a year in losses across Athens Township: $10.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Athens Township flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Athens Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Fred1 claim · $69K
Athens 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: Athens County.The storms Athens Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Athens County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Athens Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20056 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19813 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19972 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Athens County
Athens County has had 15 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 Athens Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Athens Township archive →Athens Township and its neighbors
Athens Township is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Alexander Township | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Canaan Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Dover Township | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 81 |
| Athens Township | Cmore damage than 75% | 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 Athens 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.
- 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 Athens Township
Is Athens Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Athens Township has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #935 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Athens Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Athens Township since 1981, $399K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Fred (1).
Is Athens 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 Athens County, 6% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Athens Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Athens Township’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 Athens Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Fred: 1 paid, $69K.
Is Athens Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Athens Township’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Athens Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Athens 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.