Photo: Tony Alter · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Riverside’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Riverside gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #509 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1980.
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 Riverside 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 Riverside’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Riverside, and Riverside’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #509 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Riverside’s residents live in 13 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, Riverside has more expected damage per building than 51% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Riverside: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Riverside flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Riverside, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Riverside isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Riverside
Disasters that paid out in Riverside itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Riverside), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide23 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$84K to the City of Riverside for repairs
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$46K to the City of Riverside for repairs
- 2004Snow$19K to the City of Riverside for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow$19K to the City of Riverside for repairs
Montgomery County has had 10 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 Riverside after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Riverside archive →Riverside and its neighbors
Riverside is 8th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright-Patterson AFB | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Bath Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Huber Heights | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Kettering | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Beavercreek | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Beavercreek Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Harrison Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Riverside | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Dayton | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
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 Riverside 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 Riverside
Is Riverside at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Riverside has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #509 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Riverside flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Riverside since 1980, $11K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Riverside 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 Montgomery County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Riverside?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Riverside’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 Riverside?
By FEMA money that reached Riverside, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide (2019): 23 households applied for aid, $10K approved, and $84K to the City of Riverside for repairs.
Is Riverside at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Riverside’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Riverside.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Riverside’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.