Pleasant Hill · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Milford than in 60% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milford gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #724 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 2003.
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 Milford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Milford 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 Milford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Milford, and Milford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts).
B #724 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Milford’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, Milford has more expected damage per building than 73% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Milford: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Milford flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Milford, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March storm2 claims · $1K
Milford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clermont County.The storms Milford remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Clermont County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Milford itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20082 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike, declared for Clermont County
- 20031 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20181 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Clermont County has had 16 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 Milford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Milford archive →Milford and its neighbors
Milford is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Miami Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| The Village of Indian Hill | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Milford | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Terrace Park | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
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 Milford 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 Milford
Is Milford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milford has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #724 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Milford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Milford since 2003, $10K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March storm (2).
Is Milford 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 Clermont 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 Milford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Milford’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 Milford?
By flood claims, March storm: 2 paid, $1K.
Is Milford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Milford’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Milford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Milford’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.