For tornadoes, Delaware Township’s building-damage rate is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Delaware Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #254 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then tornadoes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 35 claims here since 1986.
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 Delaware Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Delaware 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
Earthquakes
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 Delaware Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Delaware Township, and Delaware Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 21%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B #254 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Delaware Township’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, Delaware Township has less expected damage per building than 57% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.0M a year in losses across Delaware Township: $8.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Delaware Township flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Delaware Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding5 claims · $205K
Delaware 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: Hamilton County.The storms Delaware Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Hamilton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Delaware Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20058 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms and Flooding, declared for Hamilton County
- 20037 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Hamilton County
- 19905 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Hamilton County
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 Delaware Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Delaware Township archive →Delaware Township and its neighbors
Delaware Township is 2nd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Delaware Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Clay Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Carmel | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Fishers | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Indianapolis | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,638 |
| Fall Creek Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Noblesville | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| Noblesville 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 Delaware 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Delaware Township
Is Delaware Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Delaware Township has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #254 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and tornadoes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Delaware Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Delaware Township since 1986, $541K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding (5).
Is Delaware 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 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 Delaware Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Delaware 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 Delaware Township?
By flood claims, 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding: 5 paid, $205K.
Is Delaware Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Delaware Township’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Delaware Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Delaware 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.