Photo: John A. Good · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Richland Township than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richland Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #917 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 153 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 stands out about Richland Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Richland 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
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 Richland Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Richland Township, and Richland Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 12%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C #917 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Richland 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, Richland Township has more expected damage per building than 92% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Richland Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Richland Township flood? Yes: 153 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Richland Township, from FEMA’s records: 109.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Richland 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: Defiance County.The storms Richland Township remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for Defiance County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Richland Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 198531 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 198229 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Defiance County
- 200821 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Defiance County has had 5 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 Richland Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Richland Township archive →Richland Township and its neighbors
Richland Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noble Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Richland Township | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 153 |
| Flatrock Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Highland Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Defiance Township | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| Adams Township | — | 640 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 Richland 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.
- 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 Richland Township
Is Richland Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richland Township has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #917 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Richland Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 153 claims in Richland Township since 1978, $1.6M in all, or 109.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Richland 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 Defiance County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Richland Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Richland Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Richland Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Richland Township’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Richland Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Richland 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.