Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Anderson than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Anderson gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #200 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 70 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Anderson’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Anderson faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Anderson’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Anderson, and Anderson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 13% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #200 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Anderson’s residents live in 24 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Indiana town has lower expected damage than 60% of U.S. towns; within the state, Anderson has less expected damage per building than 66% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.2M a year in losses across Anderson: $9.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Anderson flood? Sometimes: 70 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Anderson, from FEMA’s records: 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding16 claims · $411K
Anderson is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Madison County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Anderson
Disasters that paid out in Anderson itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Anderson), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding894 households applied for aid$6.7M aid approved16 flood claims paid that year
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$617K to the City of Anderson for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$164K to the City of Anderson for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes50 households applied for aid$32K aid approved$368K to the City of Anderson for repairs
- 2007Snow$94K to the City of Anderson for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding742 households applied for aid$462K aid approved$1.3M to the City of Anderson for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
- 2004Snow$29K to the City of Anderson for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding51 households applied for aid$34K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding316 households applied for aid$425K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding48 households applied for aid$94K aid approved$141K to the City of Anderson for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms and Tornadoes$104K to the City of Anderson for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$71K to the City of Anderson for repairs
Madison County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Anderson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Anderson archive →Anderson and its neighbors
Anderson is 2nd of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewood | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Anderson | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Chesterfield | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Union Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Lafayette Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Stony Creek Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Fall Creek Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Adams Township | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Pendleton | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| River Forest | — | 21 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Anderson Township | — | not graded yet | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Anderson faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
- Anderson residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Anderson
Is Anderson at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Anderson has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #200 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Anderson flood?
Flood insurance has paid 70 claims in Anderson since 1979, $1.3M in all, or 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding (16).
Is Anderson in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Madison County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Anderson?
Anderson is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Anderson?
By FEMA money that reached Anderson, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 894 households applied for aid, $6.7M approved. By flood claims, 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding: 16 paid, $411K.
Is Anderson at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Anderson’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Anderson.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Anderson’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.