FEMA puts Carlisle Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carlisle Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #656 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 30 claims here since 1994.
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 Carlisle Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Carlisle 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
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 Carlisle Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Carlisle Township, and Carlisle Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #656 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Carlisle Township’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, Carlisle Township has more expected damage per building than 66% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Carlisle Township: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Carlisle Township flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Carlisle Township, from FEMA’s records: 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late winter storms4 claims · $60K
Carlisle 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: Lorain County.The storms Carlisle Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Lorain County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Carlisle Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20074 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20114 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19943 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 Carlisle Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Carlisle Township archive →Carlisle Township and its neighbors
Carlisle Township is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Russia Township | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Eaton Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Grafton | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| LaGrange Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Elyria | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Carlisle Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
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 Carlisle 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.
- 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 Carlisle Township
Is Carlisle Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carlisle Township has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #656 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Carlisle Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Carlisle Township since 1994, $428K in all, or 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Late winter storms (4).
Is Carlisle 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 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 Carlisle Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Carlisle 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 Carlisle Township?
By flood claims, Late winter storms: 4 paid, $60K.
Is Carlisle Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Carlisle Township’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Carlisle Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Carlisle 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.