Less hazard damage per building is expected in Northwood than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Northwood gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #421 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1978.
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 Northwood 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 Northwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Northwood, and Northwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #421 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Northwood’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Northwood has less expected damage per building than 58% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Northwood: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Northwood flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Northwood, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Northwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wood County.The storms Northwood remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Wood County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Northwood itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19781 flood claims paidThe year of Blizzards and Snowstorms, declared for Wood County
- 19801 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19821 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Wood 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 Northwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Northwood archive →Northwood and its neighbors
Northwood is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 128 |
| Perrysburg Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Northwood | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Rossford | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Walbridge | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Lake Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Allen Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Northwood 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 Northwood
Is Northwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Northwood has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #421 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (14%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Northwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Northwood since 1978, $14K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Northwood 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 Wood County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Northwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Northwood’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Northwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Northwood’s rate for it is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Northwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Northwood’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.