Photo: Sixflashphoto · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect less hazard damage per building than Urbancrest, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Urbancrest gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then tornadoes (13%). 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 Urbancrest 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
Earthquakes
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 Urbancrest’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Urbancrest, and Urbancrest’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 13% (higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Urbancrest’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $254K a year in losses across Urbancrest: $186K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Urbancrest flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Urbancrest. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Urbancrest isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Urbancrest
Disasters that paid out in Urbancrest itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Urbancrest), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$22K to the Village of Urbancrest for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$2K to the Village of Urbancrest for repairs
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$5K to the Village of Urbancrest for repairs
- 2004Snow$1K to the Village of Urbancrest for repairs
Franklin County has had 17 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 Urbancrest after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Urbancrest archive →Urbancrest and its neighbors
Urbancrest has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urbancrest | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Jackson Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Grove City | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Columbus | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 429 |
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 Urbancrest 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Urbancrest
Is Urbancrest at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Urbancrest has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Urbancrest 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 Franklin County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Urbancrest?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Urbancrest’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 Urbancrest?
By FEMA money that reached Urbancrest, Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike (2008): $22K to the Village of Urbancrest for repairs.
Is Urbancrest at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Urbancrest’s rate for it is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Urbancrest.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Urbancrest’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.