On FEMA’s figures, Devola faces more hazard damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Devola gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #924 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Devola 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 Devola’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Devola, and Devola’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #924 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Devola’s residents live in 2 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, Devola has more expected damage per building than 93% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $919K a year in losses across Devola: $799K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Devola flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Devola. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Devola isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Washington County.The storms Devola remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Washington County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Devola itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Washington 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.
Get ready for what Devola 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 Devola
Is Devola at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Devola has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #924 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Devola 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 Washington County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Devola?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Devola’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Devola at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Devola’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Devola.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Devola’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.