Photo: Evking22 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Center Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Center Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #459 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then earthquakes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 61 claims here since 1978.
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
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 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 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 10% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #459 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Center Township’s residents live in 58 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 77% of Indiana towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Center Township has lower expected damage per building than 53% (#190 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $59.7M, is the 209th largest of those 400.
Does Center Township flood? Sometimes: 61 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Center Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding3 claims · $45K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $12K
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: Marion County.The storms Center Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Marion County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Center Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19788 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20156 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20035 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Marion County
Marion 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 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 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 80 |
| Franklin Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Washington Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 903 |
| Perry Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| Center Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Wayne Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 137 |
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.
- 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 Center Township
Is Center Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Center Township has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #459 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 61 claims in Center Township since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (3).
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 Marion County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% 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, Central U.S. April Flooding: 3 paid, $45K.
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 71% 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.