FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Cleveland Township than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cleveland Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #17 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 4 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 Cleveland 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
Tornadoes
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 Cleveland Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cleveland Township, and Cleveland Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 13% (higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #17 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cleveland Township’s residents live in 2 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, Cleveland Township has less expected damage per building than 97% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Cleveland Township: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cleveland Township flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cleveland Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Cleveland 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: Elkhart County.The storms Cleveland Township remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for Elkhart County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Cleveland Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19811 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19981 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20161 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Elkhart County has had 10 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Cleveland Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cleveland Township archive →Cleveland Township and its neighbors
Cleveland Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Baugo Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Osolo Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Penn Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Concord Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 160 |
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 Cleveland 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.
- 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.
- 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 Cleveland Township
Is Cleveland Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cleveland Township has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #17 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cleveland Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Cleveland Township since 1981, $27K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Cleveland 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 Elkhart County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cleveland Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cleveland Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Cleveland Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Cleveland Township’s rate for it is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cleveland Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cleveland 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.