Photo: SilentMatt Psychedelic · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Shalersville Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shalersville Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #262 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1984.
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 Shalersville 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
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 Shalersville Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shalersville Township, and Shalersville Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts).
A #262 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shalersville 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, Shalersville Township has less expected damage per building than 74% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $821K a year in losses across Shalersville Township: $681K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shalersville Township flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shalersville Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Shalersville 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: Portage County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Shalersville Township
Disasters that paid out in Shalersville Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Shalersville Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds4 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$5K to Shalersville Township for repairs
Portage County has had 8 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 Shalersville Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shalersville Township archive →Shalersville Township and its neighbors
Shalersville Township is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streetsboro | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hiram Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ravenna Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Freedom Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Mantua Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Shalersville Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
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 Shalersville 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.
- 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 Shalersville Township
Is Shalersville Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shalersville Township has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #262 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (8%). 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 Shalersville Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Shalersville Township since 1984, $411K in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Shalersville 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 Portage County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shalersville Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shalersville 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 Shalersville Township?
By FEMA money that reached Shalersville Township, Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds (2003): 4 households applied for aid, $8K approved, and $5K to Shalersville Township for repairs.
Is Shalersville Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Shalersville Township’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shalersville Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shalersville 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.