Photo: Frank John Aleksandrowicz · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Valley View than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Valley View gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 308 claims here since 1978.
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 Valley View’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Valley View 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 Valley View’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Valley View, and Valley View’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Valley View’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Valley View: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Valley View flood? Yes: 308 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Valley View, from FEMA’s records: 369.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late winter storms33 claims · $818K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $6K
Valley View isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cuyahoga County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Valley View
Disasters that paid out in Valley View itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Valley View), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding86 households applied for aid$171K aid approved54 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$16K aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds5 households applied for aid$1K aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
Cuyahoga County has had 15 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 Valley View after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Valley View archive →Valley View and its neighbors
Valley View is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walton Hills | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Garfield Heights | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Sagamore Hills Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Independence | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 195 |
| Valley View | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 308 |
| Cuyahoga Heights | — | 581 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 Valley View 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 Valley View
Is Valley View at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Valley View has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%) and tornadoes (7%). 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 Valley View flood?
Flood insurance has paid 308 claims in Valley View since 1978, $5.8M in all, or 369.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 37 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late winter storms (33).
Is Valley View 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 Cuyahoga County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Valley View?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Valley View’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 Valley View?
By FEMA money that reached Valley View, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding (2006): 86 households applied for aid, $171K approved. By flood claims, Late winter storms: 33 paid, $818K.
Is Valley View at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Valley View’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Valley View.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Valley View’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.