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GreencastleINCityHallPhoto: WhisperToMe · Public domain
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Greencastle · FEMA

Less hazard damage per building is expected in Greencastle than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greencastle gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #112 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then tornadoes (18%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.

River and rain flooding 60%Tornadoes 18%Earthquakes 10%

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

less than 82%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#112 of 593 in Indiana
Hazard risk
A−#112 of 593
in Indiana · lower than 82% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
60% of expected building damage
Flood claims
0
paid since 1978 · $0
Disasters paid out here
8
of 17 declared for Putnam County
By hazard

What Greencastle 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

60%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 81% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

18%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts

Earthquakes

10%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

8%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Lightning Hurricanes Winter storms Ice storms Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves top 5% Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 12% of Greencastle’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Greencastle’s grade

River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greencastle, and Greencastle’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 18% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Greencastle sits
Greencastle
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #112 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Greencastle’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding60%Tornadoes18%Earthquakes10%Everything else11%

The typical Indiana town has lower expected damage than 60% of U.S. towns; within the state, Greencastle has less expected damage per building than 81% of Indiana towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Greencastle: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Greencastle covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Greencastle flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Greencastle. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Greencastle isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Putnam County.
Disasters

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greencastle

Disasters that paid out in Greencastle itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Greencastle), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
  2. 2014Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the City of Greencastle for repairs
  3. 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes44 households applied for aid$57K aid approved$12K to the City of Greencastle for repairs
  4. 2007Snow$10K to the City of Greencastle for repairs
  5. 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
  6. 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$15K to the City of Greencastle for repairs
Show all 8
  1. 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding10 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
  2. 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$12K to the City of Greencastle for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in GreencastlePutnam County only

Putnam 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Greencastle after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Greencastle archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Greencastle faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Greencastle

Is Greencastle at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greencastle has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #112 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and tornadoes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Is Greencastle 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 Putnam County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Greencastle?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greencastle’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 Greencastle?

By FEMA money that reached Greencastle, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2008): 44 households applied for aid, $57K approved, and $12K to the City of Greencastle for repairs.

Is Greencastle at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Greencastle’s rate for it is lower than 81% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greencastle.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greencastle’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.