Photo: Stickman42 · CC BY-SA 4.0Cicero’s building-damage rate from tornadoes is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cicero gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #280 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then tornadoes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2013.
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 Cicero 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 Cicero’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cicero, and Cicero’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 20%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B #280 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Cicero’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Indiana town has lower expected damage than 60% of U.S. towns; within the state, Cicero has less expected damage per building than 53% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Cicero: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cicero flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2013
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cicero, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Cicero isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hamilton County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cicero
Disasters that paid out in Cicero itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Cicero), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$73K aid approved
- 2007Snow$7K to the Town of Cicero for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$402 aid approved
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$5K to the Town of Cicero for repairs
Hamilton County has had 17 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 Cicero after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cicero archive →Get ready for what Cicero 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 Cicero
Is Cicero at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cicero has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #280 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and tornadoes (20%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cicero flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Cicero since 2013, $13K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Cicero 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 Hamilton County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cicero?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cicero’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 Cicero?
By FEMA money that reached Cicero, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 9 households applied for aid, $73K approved.
Is Cicero at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Cicero’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cicero.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cicero’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.