Photo: Blervis · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Dayton as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dayton gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #732 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 24 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 stands out about Dayton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Dayton 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
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 Dayton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dayton, and Dayton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
B #732 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dayton’s residents live in 65 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, Dayton has more expected damage per building than 74% of Ohio towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Dayton has lower expected damage per building than 72% (#111 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $38.0M, is the 307th largest of those 400.
Does Dayton flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dayton, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Dayton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Dayton
Disasters that paid out in Dayton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Dayton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide3,413 households applied for aid$2.5M aid approved
Montgomery County has had 10 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 Dayton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dayton archive →Dayton and its neighbors
Dayton is 10th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort McKinley | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Butler Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Huber Heights | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Kettering | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Jefferson Township | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Harrison Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Shiloh | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Riverside | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Trotwood | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Dayton | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Moraine | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Dayton 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.
- 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 Dayton
Is Dayton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dayton has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #732 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Dayton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Dayton since 1979, $320K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Dayton 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 Montgomery County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Dayton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dayton’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 Dayton?
By FEMA money that reached Dayton, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide (2019): 3,413 households applied for aid, $2.5M approved.
Is Dayton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Dayton’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dayton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dayton’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.