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Natural hazards · Independence

Independence, OH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Independence comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Independence?

87
Very high
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Independence to be higher than in 87% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding91%Everything else9%
By hazard

What Independence faces

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

Inland flooding

91% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat 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 Independence flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Independence.

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Independence isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Washington County.
Disasters that hit Independence

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into IndependenceDeclared for Washington County only
2018

Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides

$38K to the Township of Independence for repairs
2004

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$6K to the Township of Independence for repairs
2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$12K to the Township of Independence for repairs
2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

$63K to the Township of Independence for repairs
2003

Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow

$2K to the Township of Independence for repairs
Washington County has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.
Around Independence

Independence and the towns around it

Grandview: Very high, mostly inland floodingLawrence: Very high, mostly inland floodingLudlow: Very high, mostly inland floodingNewport: Very high, mostly inland floodingMatamoras (New Matamoras): Very high, mostly inland floodingBenton: High, mostly inland floodingJackson: High, mostly inland floodingLiberty: Very high, mostly inland floodingFearing: High, mostly inland floodingMarietta: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBethel: High, mostly inland floodingNewport: Very high, mostly inland floodingIndependence: Very high, mostly inland flooding IndependenceGrandviewLawrenceLudlowNewport
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Independencemostly inland floodingVery high
Grandviewmostly inland floodingVery high
Ludlowmostly inland floodingVery high
Lawrencemostly inland floodingVery high
Newportmostly inland floodingVery high
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. Independence 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 Independence’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Independence. 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.

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You’re in Independence, OHWashington CountyView boundary

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01
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