Less hazard damage per building is expected in Harris Township than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harris Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #24 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1982.
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 Harris 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 Harris Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harris Township, and Harris Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #24 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Harris Township’s residents live in 5 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, Harris Township has less expected damage per building than 96% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.9M a year in losses across Harris Township: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Harris Township flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Harris Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Harris 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: St. Joseph County.The storms Harris Township remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for St. Joseph County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Harris Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19821 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19931 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20161 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
St. Joseph County has had 14 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 Harris Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Harris Township archive →Harris Township and its neighbors
Harris Township is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Harris Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Granger | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Penn Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
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 Harris 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 Harris Township
Is Harris Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harris Township has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #24 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Harris Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Harris Township since 1982, $115K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Harris 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 St. Joseph County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Harris Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Harris Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Harris Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Harris Township’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harris Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Harris 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.