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MJTSP quay in Damascus TownshipPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Damascus Township · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Damascus Township faces more hazard damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Damascus Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). 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

more than 71%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
By hazard

What Damascus 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

82%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Tornadoes

8%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 18 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Hail Earthquakes Ice storms Strong wind Winter storms Hurricanes Lightning Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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 Damascus Township’s grade

River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Damascus Township, and Damascus Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Damascus Township sits
Damascus Township
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Damascus Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding82%Tornadoes8%Hail4%Everything else5%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $671K a year in losses across Damascus Township: $562K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Damascus Township covers 2 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 Damascus Township flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Damascus Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

of all homes are insured
No community discount

Damascus 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: Henry County.
Disasters

The storms Damascus Township remembers

None of the 7 disasters declared for Henry County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Damascus Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.

Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Damascus TownshipHenry County only

Henry County has had 7 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.

Next door

Damascus Township and its neighbors

Damascus Township is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Washington Township: hazard risk C−Richfield Township: not gradedHarrison Township: hazard risk CWeston Township: hazard risk BWashington TownshipRichfield TownshipHarrison TownshipWeston TownshipDamascus Township
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Weston TownshipBless damage than 64%river and rain flooding—
Harrison TownshipCmore damage than 66%river and rain flooding25
Damascus TownshipCmore damage than 71%river and rain flooding0
Washington TownshipC−more damage than 75%river and rain flooding2
Richfield Township—407 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 Damascus 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.

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 ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
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 Damascus Township

Is Damascus Township at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Damascus Township has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Is Damascus 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 Henry County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Damascus Township?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Damascus Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

Is Damascus Township at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Damascus Township’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Damascus Township.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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