Photo: GrantGursky · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts New Philadelphia’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Philadelphia gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #660 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 45 claims here since 1979.
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 New Philadelphia’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What New Philadelphia 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
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 New Philadelphia’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Philadelphia, and New Philadelphia’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #660 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Philadelphia’s residents live in 8 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, New Philadelphia has more expected damage per building than 66% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across New Philadelphia: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Philadelphia flood? Sometimes: 45 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Philadelphia, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
New Philadelphia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tuscarawas County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Philadelphia
Disasters that paid out in New Philadelphia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of New Philadelphia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$105K to the City of New Philadelphia for repairs
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides14 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding99 households applied for aid$106K aid approved$30K to the City of New Philadelphia for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Tuscarawas County has had 10 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 New Philadelphia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Philadelphia archive →New Philadelphia and its neighbors
New Philadelphia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Dover | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Dover Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| New Philadelphia | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Goshen Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
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 New Philadelphia 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.
- 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 New Philadelphia
Is New Philadelphia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Philadelphia has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #660 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Philadelphia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 45 claims in New Philadelphia since 1979, $266K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once.
Is New Philadelphia 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 Tuscarawas County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Philadelphia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Philadelphia’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 New Philadelphia?
By FEMA money that reached New Philadelphia, Severe Storms and Flooding (2004): 99 households applied for aid, $106K approved, and $30K to the City of New Philadelphia for repairs.
Is New Philadelphia at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and New Philadelphia’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Philadelphia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Philadelphia’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.