Photo: Sixflashphoto · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Grove City faces less hazard damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grove City gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #277 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 25 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 Grove City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Grove City 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 Grove City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Grove City, and Grove City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts).
A #277 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Grove City’s residents live in 11 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, Grove City has less expected damage per building than 72% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.2M a year in losses across Grove City: $6.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Grove City flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Grove City, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Grove City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Grove City
Disasters that paid out in Grove City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Grove City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$17K to the City of Grove City for repairs
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$87K to the City of Grove City for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$38K to the City of Grove City for repairs
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides26 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$36K to the City of Grove City for repairs
- 2004Snow$29K to the City of Grove City for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides10 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
Show all 8
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow$36K to the City of Grove City for repairs
Franklin County has had 17 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 Grove City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Grove City archive →Grove City and its neighbors
Grove City is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urbancrest | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hamilton Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Jackson Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Grove City | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Pleasant Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Columbus | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 429 |
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 Grove City 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 Grove City
Is Grove City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grove City has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #277 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Grove City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Grove City since 1979, $163K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Grove City 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 Franklin County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Grove City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Grove City’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 Grove City?
By FEMA money that reached Grove City, Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike (2008): $87K to the City of Grove City for repairs.
Is Grove City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Grove City’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Grove City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Grove City’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.