Photo: Brian Flanagan · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Hocking Township faces less hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hocking Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #340 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 7 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 Hocking 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
Hail
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 Hocking Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hocking Township, and Hocking Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A #340 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hocking Township’s residents live in 5 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, Hocking Township has less expected damage per building than 66% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $739K a year in losses across Hocking Township: $514K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hocking Township flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hocking Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hocking 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: Fairfield County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Hocking Township
Disasters that paid out in Hocking Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Hocking Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$7K to Hocking Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Fairfield 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 Hocking Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hocking Township archive →Hocking Township and its neighbors
Hocking Township is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amanda Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Madison Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hocking Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Lancaster | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 79 |
| Berne Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
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 Hocking 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Hocking Township
Is Hocking Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hocking Township has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #340 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hocking Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Hocking Township since 1979, $10K in all, or 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hocking 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 Fairfield County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hocking Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hocking 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 Hocking Township?
By FEMA money that reached Hocking Township, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2004): $7K to Hocking Township for repairs.
Is Hocking Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Hocking Township’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hocking Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hocking 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.