Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Smith Township faces less hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Smith Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #88 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1996.
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 Smith 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 Smith Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Smith Township, and Smith Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #88 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Smith Township’s residents live in 2 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, Smith Township has less expected damage per building than 91% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $985K a year in losses across Smith Township: $844K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Smith Township flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Smith Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Smith 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: Mahoning County.The storms Smith Township remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Mahoning County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Smith Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19961 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Mahoning 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 Smith Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Smith Township archive →Smith Township and its neighbors
Smith Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goshen Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Smith Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Deerfield Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Sebring | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Knox Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Lexington Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Maple Ridge | — | 433 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Beloit | — | 948 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 Smith 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 Smith Township
Is Smith Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Smith Township has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #88 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Smith Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Smith Township since 1996, $3K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Smith 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 Mahoning County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Smith Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Smith Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Smith Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Smith Township’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Smith Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Smith 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.