FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Hambden Township than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hambden Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #213 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). 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 Hambden 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
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 Hambden Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hambden Township, and Hambden Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
A #213 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hambden Township’s 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, Hambden Township has less expected damage per building than 79% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $783K a year in losses across Hambden Township: $659K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hambden Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Hambden Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Hambden 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: Geauga County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Hambden Township
Disasters that paid out in Hambden Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Hambden Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$7K to Hambden Township for repairs
Geauga County has had 9 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 Hambden Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hambden Township archive →Hambden Township and its neighbors
Hambden Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chardon | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Claridon Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Leroy Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hambden Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Montville Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Concord Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Chardon Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Hambden 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.
- 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 Hambden Township
Is Hambden Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hambden Township has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #213 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (5%). 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.
Is Hambden 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 Geauga County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hambden Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hambden Township’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 Hambden Township?
By FEMA money that reached Hambden Township, Record Snow and Near Record Snow (2008): $7K to Hambden Township for repairs.
Is Hambden Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Hambden Township’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hambden Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hambden 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.