Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Cynthian Township faces less hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cynthian Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%), then earthquakes (16%). 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 Cynthian 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
Earthquakes
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 Cynthian Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cynthian Township, and Cynthian Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 16% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cynthian Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $757K a year in losses across Cynthian Township: $600K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cynthian Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Cynthian Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Cynthian 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: Shelby County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cynthian Township
Disasters that paid out in Cynthian Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Cynthian Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$5K to Cynthian Township for repairs
- 2004Snow$1K to Cynthian Township for repairs
Shelby 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 Cynthian Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cynthian Township archive →Cynthian Township and its neighbors
Cynthian Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loramie Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Washington Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Turtle Creek Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Patterson Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cynthian Township | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| McLean Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
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 Cynthian 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Cynthian Township
Is Cynthian Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cynthian Township has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%) and earthquakes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Cynthian 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 Shelby County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cynthian Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cynthian 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 Cynthian Township?
By FEMA money that reached Cynthian Township, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2004): $5K to Cynthian Township for repairs.
Is Cynthian Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Cynthian Township’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cynthian Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cynthian 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.