Photo: Bwsmith84 · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Pultney Township than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pultney Township gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #972 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 99 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 Pultney 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 Pultney Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pultney Township, and Pultney Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #972 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pultney Township’s residents live in 4 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, Pultney Township has more expected damage per building than 98% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Pultney Township: $3.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pultney Township flood? Sometimes: 99 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pultney Township, from FEMA’s records: 22.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan31 claims · $622K
Pultney 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: Belmont County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pultney Township
Disasters that paid out in Pultney Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Pultney Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides$752K to Pultney Township for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides$3.3M to Pultney Township for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$1K to Pultney Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$33K to Pultney Township for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$170K to Pultney Township for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$383K to Pultney Township for repairs
Show all 8
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides$41K to Pultney Township for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow$21K to Pultney Township for repairs
Belmont County has had 18 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 Pultney Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pultney Township archive →Pultney Township and its neighbors
Pultney Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Mead Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Pultney Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| Bellaire | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| McMechen | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Pease Township | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 148 |
| Wheeling | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 2,656 |
| Benwood | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Neffs | — | 921 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 Pultney 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 Pultney Township
Is Pultney Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pultney Township has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #972 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pultney Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 99 claims in Pultney Township since 1978, $1.3M in all, or 22.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (31).
Is Pultney 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 Belmont County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pultney Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pultney 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 Pultney Township?
By FEMA money that reached Pultney Township, Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides (2018): $3.3M to Pultney Township for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 31 paid, $622K.
Is Pultney Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Pultney Township’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pultney Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pultney 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.