Photo: Spencer · CC BY-SA 2.5FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Shaker Heights as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shaker Heights gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #766 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 26 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 Shaker Heights 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 Shaker Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shaker Heights, and Shaker Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
B #766 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Shaker Heights’ 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, Shaker Heights has more expected damage per building than 77% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.2M a year in losses across Shaker Heights: $6.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shaker Heights flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shaker Heights, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Shaker Heights isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cuyahoga County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shaker Heights
Disasters that paid out in Shaker Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Shaker Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding29 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding200 households applied for aid$73K aid approved$46K to the City of Shaker Heights for repairs
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds425 households applied for aid$405K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Cuyahoga 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 Shaker Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shaker Heights archive →Shaker Heights and its neighbors
Shaker Heights is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beachwood | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| University Heights | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Cleveland Heights | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Cleveland | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Shaker Heights | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Highland Hills | — | 632 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 Shaker Heights 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 Shaker Heights
Is Shaker Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shaker Heights has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #766 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Shaker Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Shaker Heights since 1978, $54K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Shaker Heights 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 Cuyahoga County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shaker Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shaker Heights’ 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 Shaker Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Shaker Heights, Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds (2003): 425 households applied for aid, $405K approved.
Is Shaker Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Shaker Heights’ rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shaker Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shaker Heights’ 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.