Photo: Chris Light at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Avon than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Avon gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #306 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 24 claims here since 2005.
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 stands out about Avon’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Avon 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 Avon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Avon, and Avon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts).
A #306 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Avon’s residents live in 4 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, Avon has less expected damage per building than 69% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.5M a year in losses across Avon: $5.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Avon flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Avon, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late winter storms9 claims · $110K
Avon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lorain County.The storms Avon remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Lorain County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Avon itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20119 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20149 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20052 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Lorain 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 Avon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Avon archive →Avon and its neighbors
Avon is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Bay Village | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Avon Lake | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Westlake | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Avon | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| North Ridgeville | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
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 Avon 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 Avon
Is Avon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Avon has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #306 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 Avon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Avon since 2005, $249K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late winter storms (9).
Is Avon 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 Lorain County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Avon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Avon’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 Avon?
By flood claims, Late winter storms: 9 paid, $110K.
Is Avon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Avon’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Avon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Avon’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.