Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District · Photo: TwoScarsUp · Public domainHartford City’s building-damage rate from tornadoes is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hartford City gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #350 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then tornadoes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1993.
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 Hartford City 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 Hartford City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hartford City, and Hartford City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 19%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #350 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hartford City’s residents live in 3 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, Hartford City has more expected damage per building than 59% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Hartford City: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hartford City flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hartford City, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hartford City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Blackford County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hartford City
Disasters that paid out in Hartford City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hartford City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the City of Hartford City for repairs
- 2007Snow$15K to the City of Hartford City for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding259 households applied for aid$173K aid approved$112K to the City of Hartford City for repairs
- 2004Snow$15K to the City of Hartford City for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
Show all 7
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$16K to the City of Hartford City for repairs
Blackford County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Hartford City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hartford City archive →Get ready for what Hartford City 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 Hartford City
Is Hartford City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hartford City has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #350 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and tornadoes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hartford City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Hartford City since 1993, $2K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hartford City 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 Blackford County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hartford City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hartford City’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 Hartford City?
By FEMA money that reached Hartford City, Severe Winter Storms and Flooding (2005): 259 households applied for aid, $173K approved, and $112K to the City of Hartford City for repairs.
Is Hartford City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Hartford City’s rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hartford City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hartford City’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.