FEMA Flood Zone Lookup in Ohio

Ohio faces flood risk from the Ohio River which creates an extensive floodplain across the southern part of the state, as well as the Miami, Scioto, Great Miami, and Maumee rivers. The 2018 flooding along the Ohio River caused hundreds of millions in damage in communities from Cincinnati to Portsmouth. The Great Miami River valley including Dayton has a long flood history, with the 1913 flood being the state's worst natural disaster, killing over 400 people and leading to the creation of the Miami Conservancy District flood protection system. Dayton's modern flood protection system has prevented major flooding since 1913 but remains one of the most significant flood control systems in the country. Columbus sits at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers and faces flood risk during heavy rain events. The 2005 flood in southern Ohio along the Ohio River caused extensive damage in communities like Ironton and Portsmouth. The state has over 1,200 NFIP-participating communities, one of the highest totals nationally. Flash flooding is an increasing concern in urban areas including Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus as aging stormwater infrastructure struggles with more intense rainfall events.