Photo: Steinmek · CC BY-SA 4.0Greenwood’s building-damage rate from tornadoes is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenwood gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #391 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then tornadoes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 37 claims here since 1978.
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 Greenwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Greenwood 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 Greenwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenwood, and Greenwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 22%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #391 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Greenwood’s residents live in 13 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, Greenwood has more expected damage per building than 66% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.1M a year in losses across Greenwood: $13.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenwood flood? Sometimes: 37 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenwood, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm20 claims · $613K
Greenwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Johnson County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greenwood
Disasters that paid out in Greenwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Greenwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes55 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2014Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$46K to the City of Greenwood for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes584 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$183K to the City of Greenwood for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
- 2004Snow$50K to the City of Greenwood for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms and Tornadoes$55K to the City of Greenwood for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$19K to the City of Greenwood for repairs
Johnson County has had 13 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 Greenwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenwood archive →Greenwood and its neighbors
Greenwood is 4th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Clark Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Indianapolis | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,638 |
| Greenwood | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Pleasant Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Perry Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| White River Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Bargersville | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Whiteland | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Greenwood 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 Greenwood
Is Greenwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenwood has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #391 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and tornadoes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Greenwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 37 claims in Greenwood since 1978, $674K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (20).
Is Greenwood 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 Johnson County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Greenwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenwood’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 Greenwood?
By FEMA money that reached Greenwood, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2008): 584 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved, and $183K to the City of Greenwood for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 20 paid, $613K.
Is Greenwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Greenwood’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenwood’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.