Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Perry Township than in 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Perry Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #946 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1997.
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 Perry 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
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 Perry Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Perry Township, and Perry Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #946 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Perry Township’s residents live in 3 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, Perry Township has more expected damage per building than 95% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Perry Township: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Perry Township flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Perry Township, from FEMA’s records: 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $2K
Perry 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: Lawrence County.The storms Perry Township remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Lawrence County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Perry Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20114 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Lawrence County
- 19972 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Lawrence County
- 20002 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Lawrence County
Lawrence County has had 12 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 Perry Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Perry Township archive →Perry Township and its neighbors
Perry Township is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal Grove | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Kenova | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Fayette Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Perry Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| South Point | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Lawrence Township | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Upper Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Catlettsburg | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
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 Perry 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.
- 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 Perry Township
Is Perry Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Perry Township has higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #946 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Perry Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Perry Township since 1997, $179K in all, or 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Perry 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 Lawrence County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Perry Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Perry 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 Perry Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Perry Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Perry Township’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Perry Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Perry 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.