Photo: Greg Hume · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Greenhills than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenhills gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #345 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then tornadoes (26%). Flood insurance has paid 17 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 Greenhills 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
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 Greenhills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenhills, and Greenhills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 26%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #345 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Greenhills’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Greenhills has less expected damage per building than 65% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $740K a year in losses across Greenhills: $397K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenhills flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenhills, from FEMA’s records: 11.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Greenhills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hamilton County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greenhills
Disasters that paid out in Greenhills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Greenhills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$133K to the Village of Greenhills for repairs
- 2004Snow$11K to the Village of Greenhills for repairs
Hamilton 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.
Old photos of Greenhills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenhills archive →Greenhills and its neighbors
Greenhills is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Park | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Greenhills | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Springfield Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| New Burlington | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Greenhills 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.
- 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 Greenhills
Is Greenhills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenhills has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #345 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and tornadoes (26%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Greenhills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Greenhills since 1979, $63K in all, or 11.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Greenhills 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 Hamilton County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Greenhills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenhills’ 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 Greenhills?
By FEMA money that reached Greenhills, Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike (2008): $133K to the Village of Greenhills for repairs.
Is Greenhills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Greenhills’ rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenhills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenhills’ 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.