Photo: Heather McLaughlin from Cleveland, Ohio, United States · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Bay Village’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bay Village gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #159 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1980.
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 Bay Village 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 Bay Village’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bay Village, and Bay Village’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts).
A #159 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bay Village’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, Bay Village has less expected damage per building than 84% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Bay Village: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bay Village flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bay Village, from FEMA’s records: 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bay Village isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cuyahoga County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bay Village
Disasters that paid out in Bay Village itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bay Village), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy$66K to the City of Bay Village for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$789 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$728 aid approved
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds7 households applied for aid$19K aid approved
Cuyahoga 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 Bay Village after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bay Village archive →Bay Village and its neighbors
Bay Village is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky River | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| 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 |
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 Bay Village 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 Bay Village
Is Bay Village at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bay Village has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #159 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bay Village flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Bay Village since 1980, $85K in all, or 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Bay Village 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 Cuyahoga County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bay Village?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bay Village’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 Bay Village?
By FEMA money that reached Bay Village, Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy (2012): $66K to the City of Bay Village for repairs.
Is Bay Village at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Bay Village’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bay Village.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bay Village’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.