Photo: sunsets_for_you · CC BY-SA 2.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Willoughby Hills than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Willoughby Hills gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #462 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 102 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 Willoughby Hills’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Willoughby Hills 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
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 Willoughby Hills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Willoughby Hills, and Willoughby Hills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #462 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Willoughby Hills’ 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, Willoughby Hills has less expected damage per building than 54% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Willoughby Hills: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Willoughby Hills flood? Yes: 102 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Willoughby Hills, from FEMA’s records: 18.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late winter storms5 claims · $10K
Willoughby Hills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lake County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Willoughby Hills
Disasters that paid out in Willoughby Hills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Willoughby Hills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$23K to the City of Willoughby Hills for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding$40K to the City of Willoughby Hills for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$8K to the City of Willoughby Hills for repairs
Lake County has had 11 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Willoughby Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Willoughby Hills archive →Willoughby Hills and its neighbors
Willoughby Hills is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayfield | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Wickliffe | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Richmond Heights | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Highland Heights | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Willoughby | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Kirtland | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Willoughby Hills | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 102 |
| Gates Mills | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Waite Hill | — | 600 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 Willoughby Hills 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.
- 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 Willoughby Hills
Is Willoughby Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Willoughby Hills has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #462 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Willoughby Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 102 claims in Willoughby Hills since 1978, $1.6M in all, or 18.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late winter storms (5).
Is Willoughby Hills 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 Lake County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Willoughby Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Willoughby Hills’ 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 Willoughby Hills?
By FEMA money that reached Willoughby Hills, Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding (2006): $40K to the City of Willoughby Hills for repairs. By flood claims, Late winter storms: 5 paid, $10K.
Is Willoughby Hills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Willoughby Hills’ rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Willoughby Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Willoughby Hills’ 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.