James Delos Hill House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Montpelier faces less hazard damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montpelier gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #668 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then tornadoes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1985.
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 Montpelier 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
Hail
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 Montpelier’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Montpelier, and Montpelier’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 18%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #668 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Montpelier’s residents live in 2 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, Montpelier has more expected damage per building than 67% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Montpelier: $841K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Montpelier flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Montpelier, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Montpelier isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Williams County.The storms Montpelier remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for Williams County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Montpelier itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19851 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Williams County has had 5 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 Montpelier after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Montpelier archive →Montpelier and its neighbors
Montpelier is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Montpelier | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Superior Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Montpelier 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.
- 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.
- 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 Montpelier
Is Montpelier at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montpelier has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #668 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and tornadoes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Montpelier flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Montpelier since 1985, $193 in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Montpelier 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 Williams County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Montpelier?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Montpelier’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Montpelier at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Montpelier’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Montpelier.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Montpelier’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.