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 low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 195 claims here since 1979. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Independence?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding72%Tornadoes12%Cold waves11%Everything else6%

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

72% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 35% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places

Cold waves

11% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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?

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

195paid claims since 1979

$15.2Mpaid to owners

21homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Late winter storms: 25 claims, $3.7M

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (13) ■ flooded 2+ times

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: Cuyahoga County.

Disasters that hit Independence

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into IndependenceDeclared for Cuyahoga County only

2012

Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy

$47K to the City of Independence for repairs

2006

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding

60 households applied for aid $70K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

9 households applied for aid $6K aid approved $15K to the City of Independence for repairs

2003

Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds

2 households applied for aid

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

Around Independence

Independence and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Valley Viewmostly inland floodingLow

Independencemostly inland floodingVery low

Cuyahoga Heightsmostly inland floodingVery low

Seven Hillsmostly inland floodingVery low

Brooklyn Heightsmostly inland floodingVery low

Brecksvillemostly inland floodingVery low

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 covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

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 City of Independence. 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 Independence total about $2.7M 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.