Less hazard damage per building is expected in Bridgetown than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgetown gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #420 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then tornadoes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1978.
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 Bridgetown 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
Earthquakes
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 Bridgetown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bridgetown, and Bridgetown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 25%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #420 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bridgetown’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, Bridgetown has less expected damage per building than 58% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Bridgetown: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bridgetown flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bridgetown, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bridgetown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hamilton County.The storms Bridgetown remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Hamilton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Bridgetown itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19781 flood claims paidThe year of Blizzards and Snowstorms, declared for Hamilton County
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Hamilton County has had 16 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 Bridgetown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bridgetown archive →Bridgetown and its neighbors
Bridgetown is 3rd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheviot | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Monfort Heights | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Bridgetown | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Mack | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Covedale | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Cincinnati | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 723 |
| Green Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Dent | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Bridgetown 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Bridgetown
Is Bridgetown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgetown has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #420 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and tornadoes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bridgetown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Bridgetown since 1978, $285 in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Bridgetown 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 Hamilton County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bridgetown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bridgetown’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Bridgetown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Bridgetown’s rate for it is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bridgetown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bridgetown’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.