FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Covedale than in 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Covedale gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #481 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then tornadoes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 2 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 Covedale 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 Covedale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Covedale, and Covedale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 24%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #481 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Covedale’s residents live in 5 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, Covedale has less expected damage per building than 52% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Covedale: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Covedale flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Covedale, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Covedale 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 Covedale remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Hamilton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Covedale itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20241 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 Covedale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Covedale archive →Covedale and its neighbors
Covedale is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| 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 |
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 Covedale 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 Covedale
Is Covedale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Covedale has lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #481 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and tornadoes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Covedale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Covedale since 1979, $25K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Covedale 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 Covedale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Covedale’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Covedale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Covedale’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Covedale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Covedale’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.