Bloomington West Side Historic District (Additional Documentation) · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Center Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Center Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #315 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 45 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 Center 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
Hail
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 Center Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Center Township, and Center Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 10% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B #315 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Center Township’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, Center Township has more expected damage per building than 53% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.5M a year in losses across Center Township: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Center Township flood? Sometimes: 45 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Center Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $276
Center 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: Boone County.The storms Center Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Boone County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Center Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201329 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20118 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20142 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, declared for Boone County
Boone County has had 15 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 Center Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Center Township archive →Center Township and its neighbors
Center Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Perry Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Worth Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Zionsville | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Center Township | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Lebanon | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Washington Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Marion Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Jefferson Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Harrison Township | — | 725 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Clinton 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 Center 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Center Township
Is Center Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Center Township has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #315 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Center Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 45 claims in Center Township since 1979, $330K in all, or 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).
Is Center 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 Boone County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Center Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Center 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 Center Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $276.
Is Center Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Center Township’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Center Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Center 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.