Photo: Berniethomas68 at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Pickerington as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pickerington gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #761 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1982.
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 Pickerington 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 Pickerington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pickerington, and Pickerington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B #761 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pickerington’s residents live in 9 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, Pickerington has more expected damage per building than 77% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.0M a year in losses across Pickerington: $5.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pickerington flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pickerington, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Pickerington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fairfield County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pickerington
Disasters that paid out in Pickerington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pickerington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$21K to the City of Pickerington for repairs
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$33K to the City of Pickerington for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$25K to the City of Pickerington for repairs
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides64 households applied for aid$40K aid approved$29K to the City of Pickerington for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow$1K to the City of Pickerington for repairs
Fairfield 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 Pickerington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pickerington archive →Pickerington and its neighbors
Pickerington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reynoldsburg | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 113 |
| Columbus | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 429 |
| Violet Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Pickerington | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Madison Township | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
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 Pickerington 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 Pickerington
Is Pickerington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pickerington has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #761 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pickerington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Pickerington since 1982, $101K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Pickerington 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 Fairfield County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pickerington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pickerington’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 Pickerington?
By FEMA money that reached Pickerington, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2004): 64 households applied for aid, $40K approved, and $29K to the City of Pickerington for repairs.
Is Pickerington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Pickerington’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pickerington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pickerington’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.