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Heckler FarmhouseHeckler Farmhouse · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
B−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Crestline · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Crestline as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Crestline gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #809 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 80%Hail 5%Tornadoes 4%

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

less than 50%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#809 of 993 in Ohio
Hazard risk
B−#809 of 993
in Ohio · lower than 50% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
80% of expected building damage
Flood claims
20
paid since 1979 · $399K
Flooded more than once
3
properties
Disasters paid out here
6
of 12 declared for Crawford County

What stands out about Crestline’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Moved out of harm’s way1 flood-prone property bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 200711 flood claims were paid for 2007 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Crestline 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

80%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Hail

5%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Ice storms Strong wind Earthquakes Winter storms Hurricanes Lightning Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 11% of Crestline’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Crestline’s grade

River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Crestline, and Crestline’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Crestline sits
Crestline
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B− #809 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Crestline’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding80%Hail5%Tornadoes4%Everything else11%

The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Crestline has more expected damage per building than 81% of Ohio towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Crestline: $908K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Crestline covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Crestline flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Crestline, from FEMA’s records: 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 1 claim1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 11 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 2 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 1 claim2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197920072013
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Late winter storms1 claim · $32K
20
paid claims since 1979
$399K
paid to owners
3
homes flooded more than once
$20K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Crestline isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Crawford County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1flood-prone property bought out and cleared
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Crestline

Disasters that paid out in Crestline itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Crestline), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$12K to the Village of Crestline for repairs
  2. 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes247 households applied for aid$450K aid approved$7K to the Village of Crestline for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides133 households applied for aid$72K aid approved$67K to the Village of Crestline for repairs
  4. 2004Snow$7K to the Village of Crestline for repairs
  5. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding27 households applied for aid$25K aid approved
  6. 2003Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in CrestlineCrawford County only

Crawford County has had 12 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Crestline after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Crestline archive →
Next door

Crestline and its neighbors

Crestline is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Jackson Township: not gradedJefferson Township: hazard risk BGalion: hazard risk AJackson TownshipJefferson TownshipGalionCrestline
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
GalionAless damage than 85%river and rain flooding41
Jefferson TownshipBless damage than 63%river and rain flooding—
CrestlineB−less damage than 50%river and rain flooding20
Jackson Township—482 residents; we grade 1,000+

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Crestline faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Crestline

Is Crestline at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Crestline has lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #809 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hail (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Crestline flood?

Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Crestline since 1979, $399K in all, or 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late winter storms (1).

Is Crestline 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 Crawford County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Crestline?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Crestline’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 Crestline?

By FEMA money that reached Crestline, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2007): 247 households applied for aid, $450K approved, and $7K to the Village of Crestline for repairs. By flood claims, Late winter storms: 1 paid, $32K.

Is Crestline at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Crestline’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Crestline.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Crestline’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.