Photo: Roseohioresident · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Sandy Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sandy Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #871 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 2003.
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 Sandy 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
Hail
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 Sandy Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sandy Township, and Sandy Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 5% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #871 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Sandy Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sandy Township has more expected damage per building than 88% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Sandy Township: $904K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sandy Township flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sandy Township, from FEMA’s records: 7.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sandy 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: Stark County.The storms Sandy Township remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Stark County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Sandy Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20044 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides, declared for Stark County
- 20032 flood claims paidThe year of Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds, declared for Stark County
- 20051 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Stark 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 Sandy Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sandy Township archive →Sandy Township and its neighbors
Sandy Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osnaburg Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Pike Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Rose Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sandy Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Brown Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
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 Sandy 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Sandy Township
Is Sandy Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sandy Township has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #871 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hail (5%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sandy Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Sandy Township since 2003, $30K in all, or 7.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Sandy 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 Stark County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sandy Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sandy Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Sandy Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Sandy Township’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sandy Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sandy 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.