Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Mad River Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mad River Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #809 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1995.
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 Mad River 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 Mad River Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mad River Township, and Mad River Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #809 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mad River Township’s residents live in 4 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, Mad River Township has more expected damage per building than 81% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $808K a year in losses across Mad River Township: $614K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mad River Township flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mad River Township, from FEMA’s records: 6.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mad River 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: Champaign County.The storms Mad River Township remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Champaign County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Mad River Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19952 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Champaign County
- 19991 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20001 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Champaign County has had 7 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 Mad River Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mad River Township archive →Mad River Township and its neighbors
Mad River Township is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pike Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Jackson Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| German Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Urbana Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Urbana | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Concord Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mad River Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Mad River 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 Mad River Township
Is Mad River Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mad River Township has lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #809 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mad River Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Mad River Township since 1995, $89K in all, or 6.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Mad River 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 Champaign County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mad River Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mad River Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Mad River Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Mad River Township’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mad River Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mad River 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.