For tornadoes, Greendale’s building-damage rate is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greendale gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #317 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then tornadoes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1997.
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 Greendale 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 Greendale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greendale, and Greendale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 21%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #317 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Greendale’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, Greendale has more expected damage per building than 53% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Greendale: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greendale flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greendale, 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 Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $14K
Greendale isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dearborn County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greendale
Disasters that paid out in Greendale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Greendale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding46 households applied for aid$292 aid approved$81K to the City of Greendale for repairs
- 2004Snow$7K to the City of Greendale for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$141K to the City of Greendale for repairs
Dearborn County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Greendale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greendale archive →Greendale and its neighbors
Greendale 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Valley | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Miller Township | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Lawrenceburg | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lawrenceburg Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Greendale | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Whitewater Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
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 Greendale 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 Greendale
Is Greendale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greendale has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #317 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Greendale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Greendale since 1997, $132K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (1).
Is Greendale 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 Dearborn County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Greendale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greendale’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 Greendale?
By FEMA money that reached Greendale, Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding (2002): $141K to the City of Greendale for repairs. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 1 paid, $14K.
Is Greendale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Greendale’s rate for it is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greendale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greendale’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.