Frederick and Augusta Hagemann Farm · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Black Township than in 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Black Township gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #590 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then earthquakes (30%). Flood insurance has paid 66 claims here since 1981.
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 Black Township 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
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 Black Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Black Township, and Black Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #590 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Black Township’s residents live in 5 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, Black Township has more expected damage per building than 99% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.0M a year in losses across Black Township: $5.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Black Township flood? Sometimes: 66 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Black Township, from FEMA’s records: 15.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms35 claims · $1.2M
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $14K
Black Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Posey County.The storms Black Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Posey County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Black Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201135 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and, declared for Posey County
- 199712 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Posey County
- 20057 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms and Flooding, declared for Posey County
Posey County has had 16 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 Black Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Black Township archive →Black Township and its neighbors
Black Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrs Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Black Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
| Mount Vernon | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Emma Township | — | 86 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Lynn Township | — | 814 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Point Township | — | 114 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 Black Township 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.
- 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 Black Township
Is Black Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Black Township has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #590 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and earthquakes (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Black Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 66 claims in Black Township since 1981, $1.7M in all, or 15.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (35).
Is Black Township 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 Posey County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Black Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Black Township’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 Black Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 35 paid, $1.2M.
Is Black Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Black Township’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Black Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Black Township’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.