Photo: Roseohioresident · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Island Creek Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Island Creek Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #807 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Island Creek 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
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 Island Creek Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Island Creek Township, and Island Creek Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #807 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Island Creek Township’s residents live in 7 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, Island Creek Township has more expected damage per building than 81% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Island Creek Township: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Island Creek Township flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Island Creek Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan3 claims · $213K
Island Creek 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: Jefferson County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Island Creek Township
Disasters that paid out in Island Creek Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Island Creek Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides$649K to Island Creek Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides$59K to Island Creek Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$117K to Island Creek Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$135K to Island Creek Township for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$201K to Island Creek Township for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$26K to Island Creek Township for repairs
Show all 7
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides$161K to Island Creek Township for repairs
Jefferson County has had 19 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 Island Creek Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Island Creek Township archive →Island Creek Township and its neighbors
Island Creek Township is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wintersville | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Salem Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Steubenville | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Cross Creek Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Island Creek Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Weirton | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 143 |
| Knox Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Toronto | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Pottery Addition | — | 110 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Ross Township | — | 521 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Island Creek 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.
- 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 Island Creek Township
Is Island Creek Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Island Creek Township has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #807 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Island Creek Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Island Creek Township since 1979, $245K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (3).
Is Island Creek 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 Jefferson County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Island Creek Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Island Creek 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 Island Creek Township?
By FEMA money that reached Island Creek Township, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2019): $649K to Island Creek Township for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 3 paid, $213K.
Is Island Creek Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Island Creek Township’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Island Creek Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Island Creek 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.