Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Waterville than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waterville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #909 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 33 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 Waterville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Waterville 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 Waterville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Waterville, and Waterville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
C #909 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Waterville’s residents live in 3 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, Waterville has more expected damage per building than 92% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Waterville: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Waterville flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Waterville, from FEMA’s records: 12.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Waterville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lucas County.The storms Waterville remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Lucas County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Waterville itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19829 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19856 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19785 flood claims paidThe year of Blizzards and Snowstorms, declared for Lucas County
Lucas County has had 12 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 Waterville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Waterville archive →Waterville and its neighbors
Waterville is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterville Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Waterville | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Middleton Township | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Waterville 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 Waterville
Is Waterville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waterville has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #909 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Waterville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in Waterville since 1978, $177K in all, or 12.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Waterville 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 Lucas County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Waterville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Waterville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Waterville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Waterville’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Waterville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Waterville’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.