Natural hazards · Portsmouth

Portsmouth, OH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Portsmouth comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 29 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 Portsmouth?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Portsmouth to be higher than in 72% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding77%Heat waves9%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Portsmouth faces

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

Inland flooding

77% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Heat waves

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold 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 Portsmouth flood?

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

29paid claims since 1978

$152Kpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Not a named storm: 4 claims, $5K

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. Portsmouth isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Scioto County.

Disasters that hit Portsmouth

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into PortsmouthDeclared for Scioto County only

2019

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides

$6K to the City of Portsmouth for repairs

2018

Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides

$128K to the City of Portsmouth for repairs

2004

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

26 households applied for aid $31K aid approved $65K to the City of Portsmouth for repairs

2003

Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow

488 households applied for aid $424K aid approved $884K to the City of Portsmouth for repairs

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

Around Portsmouth

Portsmouth and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

New Bostonmostly inland floodingVery high

South Shoremostly inland floodingVery high

Portsmouthmostly inland floodingHigh

Harrisonmostly inland floodingHigh

Claymostly inland floodingModerate

Portermostly inland floodingModerate

Sciotodalemostly inland floodingModerate

Rosemountmostly inland floodingLow

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. Portsmouth covers 6 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Portsmouth’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Portsmouth. 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 Portsmouth total about $6.8M 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.