Natural hazards · Bethesda

Bethesda, OH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Bethesda comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2010. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Bethesda?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Bethesda to be higher than in 14% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding66%Lightning9%Tornadoes9%Everything else17%

By hazard

What Bethesda faces

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

Inland flooding

66% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 33% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lightning

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 51% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windDrought

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 Bethesda flood?

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

1paid claims since 2010

$6Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20102026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Belmont County.

Disasters that hit Bethesda

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into BethesdaDeclared for Belmont County only

2004

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid $853 to the Village of Bethesda for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

10 households applied for aid $10K aid approved $26K to the Village of Bethesda for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

3 households applied for aid $500 aid approved

2003

Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow

$2K to the Village of Bethesda for repairs

Belmont County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

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. Bethesda is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

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

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.

Bethesda, OH natural hazards

How exposed is Bethesda?

What Bethesda faces

Inland flooding

Lightning

Tornadoes

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Bethesda flood?

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow

How to read this page

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