Photo: Sixflashphoto · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Washington Township than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #685 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). 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 Washington 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 Washington Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Washington Township, and Washington Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
B #685 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Washington Township’s residents live in 17 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, Washington Township has more expected damage per building than 69% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.2M a year in losses across Washington Township: $14.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Washington Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Washington Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Washington 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: Franklin County.The storms Washington Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Franklin County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Washington Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
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.
Washington Township and its neighbors
Washington Township is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Hilliard | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Norwich Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Columbus | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 429 |
| Washington Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Dublin | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Darby Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brown Township | B−less damage than 53% | 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 Washington 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 Washington Township
Is Washington Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Township has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #685 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Washington 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 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 Washington Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Washington Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Washington Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Washington Township’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Washington Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Washington 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.