Photo: Chris Flook · CC BY-SA 4.0For tornadoes, Batesville’s building-damage rate is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Batesville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #343 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then tornadoes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2021.
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 Batesville 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 Batesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Batesville, and Batesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 20%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B #343 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Batesville’s residents live in 3 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, Batesville has more expected damage per building than 58% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Batesville: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Batesville flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2021
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Batesville, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Batesville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ripley County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Batesville
Disasters that paid out in Batesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Batesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and$6K to the City of Batesville for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$22K to the City of Batesville for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding18 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$40K to the City of Batesville for repairs
- 2004Snow$13K to the City of Batesville for repairs
Ripley County has had 14 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 Batesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Batesville archive →Batesville and its neighbors
Batesville is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Laughery Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Batesville | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Morris | — | 587 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Batesville 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Batesville
Is Batesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Batesville has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #343 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and tornadoes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Batesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Batesville since 2021, $68K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Batesville 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 Ripley County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Batesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Batesville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Batesville?
By FEMA money that reached Batesville, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 18 households applied for aid, $2K approved, and $40K to the City of Batesville for repairs.
Is Batesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Batesville’s rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Batesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Batesville’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.