Natural hazards · Ames

Ames, OH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Ames comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 40 claims here since 1997. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Ames?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Ames to be higher than in 73% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding80%Heat waves6%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Ames faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

80% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Ames flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ames, from FEMA’s records.

40paid claims since 1997

$1.2Mpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19972026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Ivan: 12 claims, $409K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Ames isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Athens County.

Disasters that hit Ames

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Ames itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Township of Ames.

Brought FEMA money into AmesDeclared for Athens County only

2019

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

$32K to the Township of Ames for repairs

2018

Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides

$115K to the Township of Ames for repairs

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

$2K to the Township of Ames for repairs

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

$45K to the Township of Ames for repairs

2004

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$32K to the Township of Ames for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

$70K to the Township of Ames for repairs

2003

Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow

$39K to the Township of Ames for repairs

Athens County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Ames

Ames and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Dovermostly inland floodingVery high

Amesmostly inland floodingHigh

Bernmostly inland floodingHigh

Homermostly inland floodingModerate

Canaanmostly inland floodingModerate

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Ames covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Ames’s own flood-insurance community (here, the census tracts inside it); household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Ames. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Ames total about $975K a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.