Photo: Roseohioresident · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Lawrence Township faces less hazard damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lawrence Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #431 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 65 claims here since 1978.
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 Lawrence Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lawrence 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
Hail
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 Lawrence Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lawrence Township, and Lawrence Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 9% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #431 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lawrence Township’s residents live in 3 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, Lawrence Township has less expected damage per building than 57% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Lawrence Township: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lawrence Township flood? Sometimes: 65 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lawrence Township, from FEMA’s records: 10.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Erin1 claim · $17K
- The Late winter storms1 claim · $4K
Lawrence 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: Stark County.The storms Lawrence Township remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Stark County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Lawrence Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 197913 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19948 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20086 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Stark 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 Lawrence Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lawrence Township archive →Lawrence Township and its neighbors
Lawrence Township is 6th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Township | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Green | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Baughman Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Tuscarawas Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| New Franklin | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lawrence Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Clinton | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
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 Lawrence 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.
- 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.
- 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 Lawrence Township
Is Lawrence Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lawrence Township has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #431 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hail (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lawrence Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 65 claims in Lawrence Township since 1978, $501K in all, or 10.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Erin (1).
Is Lawrence 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 Stark County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lawrence Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lawrence 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 Lawrence Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Erin: 1 paid, $17K.
Is Lawrence Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Lawrence Township’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lawrence Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lawrence 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.