Natural hazards · Parma

Parma, OH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Parma comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 28 claims here since 1978. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Parma?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Parma to be higher than in 25% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding62%Cold waves19%Tornadoes11%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Parma faces

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

Inland flooding

62% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Cold waves

19% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

11% of expected damage

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

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 Parma flood?

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

28paid claims since 1978

$498Kpaid to owners

5homes flooded more than once

19782026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Parma 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.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

7flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1flood-prone homes bought out and moved

Disasters that hit Parma

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ParmaDeclared for Cuyahoga County only

2012

Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy

$79K to the City of Parma for repairs

2006

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding

75 households applied for aid $89K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

47 households applied for aid $31K aid approved $78K to the City of Parma for repairs

2003

Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds

29 households applied for aid $17K aid approved

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

Around Parma

Parma and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Parma Heightsmostly inland floodingHigh

Brook Parkmostly inland floodingModerate

Parmamostly inland floodingLow

North Royaltonmostly inland floodingVery low

Seven Hillsmostly 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. Parma covers 22 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Parma’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Parma. 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 Parma total about $16.8M 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.