Photo: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Portsmouth faces more hazard damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Portsmouth gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #926 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 29 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Portsmouth, and Portsmouth’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C #926 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Portsmouth’s residents live in 11 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, Portsmouth has more expected damage per building than 93% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.1M a year in losses across Portsmouth: $6.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Portsmouth flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Portsmouth, from FEMA’s records: 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Portsmouth isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Scioto County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Portsmouth
Disasters that paid out in Portsmouth itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Portsmouth), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides$6K to the City of Portsmouth for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides$128K to the City of Portsmouth for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides26 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$65K to the City of Portsmouth for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow488 households applied for aid$424K aid approved$884K to the City of Portsmouth for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Scioto County has had 15 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 Portsmouth after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Portsmouth archive →Portsmouth and its neighbors
Portsmouth is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Rosemount | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Harrison Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Clay Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Portsmouth | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| South Shore | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| New Boston | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Sciotodale | — | 794 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth
Is Portsmouth at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Portsmouth has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #926 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Portsmouth flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Portsmouth since 1978, $152K in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Portsmouth 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 Scioto County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Portsmouth?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Portsmouth’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 Portsmouth?
By FEMA money that reached Portsmouth, Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow (2003): 488 households applied for aid, $424K approved, and $884K to the City of Portsmouth for repairs.
Is Portsmouth at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Portsmouth’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Portsmouth.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Portsmouth’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.