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A+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Mansfield · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Mansfield than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mansfield gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #69 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%). Flood insurance has paid 56 claims here since 1981.

River and rain flooding 71%Hail 10%Tornadoes 7%

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

less than 96%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#69 of 993 in Ohio
Hazard risk
A+#69 of 993
in Ohio · lower than 96% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
71% of expected building damage
Flood claims
56
paid since 1981 · $3.0M
Flooded more than once
11
properties
Disasters paid out here
7
of 15 declared for Richland County

What stands out about Mansfield’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 96% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Made safer with FEMA grants1 storm safe room built with FEMA grants.Remembers 201119 flood claims were paid for 2011 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Mansfield 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

71%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hail

10%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

7%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Ice storms Winter storms Earthquakes Hurricanes Lightning Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Mansfield’s grade

River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mansfield, and Mansfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Mansfield sits
Mansfield
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A+ #69 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Mansfield’s residents live in 23 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding71%Hail10%Tornadoes7%Everything else12%

The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Mansfield has less expected damage per building than 93% of Ohio towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.5M a year in losses across Mansfield: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 23 census tracts by where Mansfield’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Mansfield flood? Sometimes: 56 flood claims since 1981

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mansfield, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1981: 6 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 5 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 1 claim2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 3 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 3 claims2007: 13 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 19 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 4 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198120072011
19812026
Biggest named events
  • The Late winter storms19 claims · $1.7M
  • Tropical Storm Erin1 claim · $6K
56
paid claims since 1981
$3.0M
paid to owners
11
homes flooded more than once
$53K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Mansfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Richland County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1storm safe room built
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mansfield

Disasters that paid out in Mansfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mansfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Tornadoes7 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
  2. 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$83K to the City of Mansfield for repairs
  3. 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes1,332 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$230K to the City of Mansfield for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides1,875 households applied for aid$787K aid approved$666K to the City of Mansfield for repairs
  5. 2004Snow$46K to the City of Mansfield for repairs
  6. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding220 households applied for aid$189K aid approved
Show all 7
  1. 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds388 households applied for aid$221K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in MansfieldRichland County only

Richland County has had 15 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Mansfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Mansfield archive →
Next door

Mansfield and its neighbors

Mansfield is 4th of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Madison Township: hazard risk A+Washington Township: hazard risk AFranklin Township: hazard risk ASpringfield Township: hazard risk A+Weller Township: hazard risk ARoseland: hazard risk A+Ontario: hazard risk A+Troy Township: hazard risk ALincoln Heights: not gradedMadison TownshipWashington TownshipFranklin TownshipSpringfield TownshipWeller TownshipRoselandOntarioTroy TownshipLincoln HeightsMansfield
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
OntarioA+among the lowest damageriver and rain flooding1
Springfield TownshipA+less damage than 98%river and rain flooding2
Madison TownshipA+less damage than 97%river and rain flooding10
MansfieldA+less damage than 96%river and rain flooding56
RoselandA+less damage than 95%river and rain flooding—
Troy TownshipAless damage than 93%river and rain flooding3
Weller TownshipAless damage than 91%river and rain flooding—
Washington TownshipAless damage than 90%river and rain flooding2
Franklin TownshipAless damage than 89%river and rain flooding—
Lincoln Heights—685 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Mansfield faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Mansfield

Is Mansfield at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mansfield has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #69 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and hail (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Mansfield flood?

Flood insurance has paid 56 claims in Mansfield since 1981, $3.0M in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late winter storms (19).

Is Mansfield 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 Richland County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Mansfield?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mansfield’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 Mansfield?

By FEMA money that reached Mansfield, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2007): 1,332 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved, and $230K to the City of Mansfield for repairs. By flood claims, Late winter storms: 19 paid, $1.7M.

Is Mansfield at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Mansfield’s rate for it is lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mansfield.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mansfield’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.