Photo: Ernest Mettendorf · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Symmes Township than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Symmes Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #583 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then tornadoes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 30 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Symmes Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Symmes 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
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 Symmes Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Symmes Township, and Symmes Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 16% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #583 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Symmes Township’s residents live in 6 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, Symmes Township has more expected damage per building than 59% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Symmes Township: $3.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Symmes Township flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Symmes Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March storm3 claims · $51K
Symmes 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: Hamilton County.The storms Symmes Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Hamilton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Symmes Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20019 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Hamilton County
- 19984 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20034 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Hamilton County has had 16 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 Symmes Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Symmes Township archive →Symmes Township and its neighbors
Symmes Township is 6th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deerfield Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Montgomery | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Miami Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Hamilton Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Loveland | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Symmes Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Sixteen Mile Stand | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Loveland Park | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| The Village of Indian Hill | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Camp Dennison | — | 265 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Remington | — | 604 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 Symmes 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.
- 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 Symmes Township
Is Symmes Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Symmes Township has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #583 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Symmes Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Symmes Township since 1979, $461K in all, or 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March storm (3).
Is Symmes 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 Hamilton County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Symmes Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Symmes 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 Symmes Township?
By flood claims, March storm: 3 paid, $51K.
Is Symmes Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Symmes Township’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Symmes Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Symmes 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.