Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Berne Township faces more hazard damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berne Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #891 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Berne 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 Berne Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Berne Township, and Berne Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #891 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Berne Township’s residents live in 3 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, Berne Township has more expected damage per building than 90% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Berne Township: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Berne Township flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Berne Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Berne 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: Fairfield County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Berne Township
Disasters that paid out in Berne Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Berne Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$14K to Berne Township for repairs
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$5K to Berne Township for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$7K to Berne Township for repairs
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$5K to Berne Township for repairs
Fairfield County has had 9 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 Berne Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Berne Township archive →Berne Township and its neighbors
Berne 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hocking Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Lancaster | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 79 |
| Rush Creek Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Good Hope Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Berne Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Marion Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Berne 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 Berne Township
Is Berne Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berne Township has higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #891 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Berne Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Berne Township since 1980, $20K in all, or 4.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Berne 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 Fairfield County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Berne Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Berne 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 Berne Township?
By FEMA money that reached Berne Township, Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds (2012): $14K to Berne Township for repairs.
Is Berne Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Berne Township’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Berne Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Berne 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.