Photo: Steve Shook · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Cedar Lake’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cedar Lake gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #89 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then tornadoes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1983.
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 Cedar Lake’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cedar Lake 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
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 Cedar Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cedar Lake, and Cedar Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 18% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
A #89 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cedar Lake’s residents live in 6 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, Cedar Lake has less expected damage per building than 85% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Cedar Lake: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cedar Lake flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cedar Lake, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Cedar Lake isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lake County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cedar Lake
Disasters that paid out in Cedar Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Cedar Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding198 households applied for aid$203K aid approved
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding32 households applied for aid$33K aid approved$25K to the Town of Cedar Lake for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2007Snow$14K to the Town of Cedar Lake for repairs
Show all 9
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2000Snow$5K to the Town of Cedar Lake for repairs
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$11K to the Town of Cedar Lake for repairs
Lake County has had 20 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 Cedar Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cedar Lake archive →Cedar Lake and its neighbors
Cedar Lake has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Lake | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Center Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| West Creek Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Cedar Creek Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Hanover Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Lake Dalecarlia | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Cedar Lake 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.
- 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 Cedar Lake
Is Cedar Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cedar Lake has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #89 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and tornadoes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cedar Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Cedar Lake since 1983, $2K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Cedar Lake 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 Lake County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cedar Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cedar Lake’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 Cedar Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Cedar Lake, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 198 households applied for aid, $203K approved.
Is Cedar Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Cedar Lake’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cedar Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cedar Lake’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.