Photo: Analogue Kid · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Circleville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Circleville gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #850 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1979.
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 Circleville 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 Circleville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Circleville, and Circleville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #850 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Circleville’s residents live in 6 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, Circleville has more expected damage per building than 86% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Circleville: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Circleville flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Circleville, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Circleville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pickaway County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Circleville
Disasters that paid out in Circleville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Circleville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide22 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$10K to the City of Circleville for repairs
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$28K to the City of Circleville for repairs
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides36 households applied for aid$22K aid approved$41K to the City of Circleville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Pickaway County has had 11 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 Circleville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Circleville archive →Circleville and its neighbors
Circleville is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Logan Elm Village | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Circleville Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Circleville | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
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 Circleville 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 Circleville
Is Circleville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Circleville has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #850 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Circleville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Circleville since 1979, $317K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Circleville 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 Pickaway County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Circleville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Circleville’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 Circleville?
By FEMA money that reached Circleville, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2004): 36 households applied for aid, $22K approved, and $41K to the City of Circleville for repairs.
Is Circleville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Circleville’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Circleville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Circleville’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.