Natural hazards · Wells

Wells, OH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Wells comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1990. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Wells?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Wells to be higher than in 90% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding92%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Wells faces

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

Inland flooding

92% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about once 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 Wells flood?

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

25paid claims since 1990

$211Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19902026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Ivan: 7 claims, $64K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Jefferson County.

Disasters that hit Wells

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WellsDeclared for Jefferson County only

2004

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$83K to the Township of Wells for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$443K to the Township of Wells for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

$116K to the Township of Wells for repairs

2003

Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds

$36K to the Township of Wells for repairs

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

Around Wells

Wells and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Wellsburgmostly inland floodingVery high

Wellsmostly inland floodingVery high

New Alexandriamostly inland floodingVery high

Beech Bottommostly inland floodingVery high

Warrenmostly inland floodingVery high

Steubenvillemostly inland floodingHigh

Smithfieldmostly inland floodingModerate

Cross Creekmostly 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. Wells covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Wells’s own flood-insurance community (here, the census tracts inside it); household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Wells. 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 Wells total about $2.2M 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.