Photo: Wendy Soucie from Cleveland OH, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Suffield Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Suffield Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #122 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Suffield 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 Suffield Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Suffield Township, and Suffield Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts).
A #122 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Suffield 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, Suffield Township has less expected damage per building than 88% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $902K a year in losses across Suffield Township: $745K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Suffield Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Suffield Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Suffield 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Suffield Township
Disasters that paid out in Suffield Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Suffield Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to Suffield Township for repairs
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
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 Suffield Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Suffield Township archive →Suffield Township and its neighbors
Suffield Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffield Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Brimfield Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Randolph Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Springfield Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Mogadore | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Tallmadge | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Suffield 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 Suffield Township
Is Suffield Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Suffield Township has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #122 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Suffield 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 Suffield Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Suffield 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 Suffield Township?
By FEMA money that reached Suffield Township, Severe Storms and Flooding (2004): $9K to Suffield Township for repairs.
Is Suffield Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Suffield Township’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Suffield Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Suffield 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.