Photo: Roseohioresident · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Paris Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Paris Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #794 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 Paris Township 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
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 Paris Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Paris Township, and Paris Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 7% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #794 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Paris Township’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, Paris Township has more expected damage per building than 80% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Paris Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Paris Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Paris Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Paris Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Stark County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Paris Township
Disasters that paid out in Paris Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Paris Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds1 households applied for aid$9K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Stark County has had 9 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 Paris Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Paris Township archive →Paris Township and its neighbors
Paris Township is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Osnaburg Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| West Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Paris Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Minerva | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Brown Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
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 Paris Township 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.
- 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 Paris Township
Is Paris Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Paris Township has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #794 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hail (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Paris Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Paris Township since 2003, $43K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Paris Township 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 Stark County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Paris Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Paris Township’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 Paris Township?
By FEMA money that reached Paris Township, Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds (2003): 1 households applied for aid, $9K approved.
Is Paris Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Paris Township’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Paris Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Paris Township’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.