Photo: SilentMatt Psychedelic · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Cortland’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cortland gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #191 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Cortland 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
Hail
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 Cortland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cortland, and Cortland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
A #191 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cortland’s residents live in 2 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, Cortland has less expected damage per building than 81% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Cortland: $994K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cortland flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Cortland. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Cortland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Trumbull County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cortland
Disasters that paid out in Cortland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cortland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding70 households applied for aid$110K aid approved
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds61 households applied for aid$106K aid approved
Trumbull County has had 8 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 Cortland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cortland archive →Cortland and its neighbors
Cortland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mecca Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cortland | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Bazetta Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Johnston Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fowler Township | A−less damage than 81% | 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 Cortland 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Cortland
Is Cortland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cortland has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #191 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Cortland 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 Trumbull County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cortland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cortland’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 Cortland?
By FEMA money that reached Cortland, Severe Storms and Flooding (2004): 70 households applied for aid, $110K approved.
Is Cortland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Cortland’s rate for it is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cortland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cortland’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.