Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Walnut Township than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walnut Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #366 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 49 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 Walnut Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Walnut 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 Walnut Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Walnut Township, and Walnut Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A #366 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Walnut 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, Walnut Township has less expected damage per building than 63% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Walnut Township: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Walnut Township flood? Sometimes: 49 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Walnut Township, from FEMA’s records: 15.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March storm1 claim · $6K
Walnut 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: Fairfield County.The storms Walnut Township remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Fairfield County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Walnut Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199611 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 199711 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20085 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike, declared for Fairfield County
Fairfield 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 Walnut Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Walnut Township archive →Walnut Township and its neighbors
Walnut 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Walnut Township | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Thorn Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Union Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Liberty Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Richland Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Walnut 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 Walnut Township
Is Walnut Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walnut Township has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #366 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Walnut Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 49 claims in Walnut Township since 1979, $285K in all, or 15.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March storm (1).
Is Walnut 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 Fairfield County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Walnut Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Walnut 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 Walnut Township?
By flood claims, March storm: 1 paid, $6K.
Is Walnut Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Walnut Township’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Walnut Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Walnut 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.