Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Indianapolis faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Indianapolis gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #372 of 593 in Indiana State. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 1,638 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 Indianapolis’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis’ grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Indianapolis, and Indianapolis’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #372 of 593 in Indiana State; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Indianapolis’ residents live in 240 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Indiana State town has lower expected damage than 60% of U.S. towns; within the state, Indianapolis has more expected damage per building than 63% of Indiana State towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Indianapolis has lower expected damage per building than 66% (#138 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $265M, is the 24th largest of those 400.
Does Indianapolis flood? Yes: 1,638 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Indianapolis, from FEMA’s records: 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm72 claims · $1.7M
- The 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding54 claims · $1.6M
- The Central U.S. April Flooding11 claims · $280K
Indianapolis is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Indianapolis
Disasters that paid out in Indianapolis itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Indianapolis), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding3,475 households applied for aid$6.9M aid approved56 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes1 households applied for aid$225 aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes2,775 households applied for aid$4.2M aid approved$1.6M to the City of Indianapolis for repairs120 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Snow$849K to the City of Indianapolis for repairs24 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding296 households applied for aid$477K aid approved143 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Snow$461K to the City of Indianapolis for repairs
Show all 11
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1,053 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2,750 households applied for aid$5.7M aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding170 households applied for aid$239K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms and Tornadoes$1.3M to the City of Indianapolis for repairs27 flood claims paid that year
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$702K to the City of Indianapolis for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
Old photos of Indianapolis after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Indianapolis archive →Indianapolis and its neighbors
Indianapolis is 8th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| McCordsville | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lawrence | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lawrence Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Franklin Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Decatur Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Zionsville | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Indianapolis | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,638 |
| Pike Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Perry Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| Brown Township | C+more damage than 65% | 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 Indianapolis 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.
- Indianapolis residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Indianapolis
Is Indianapolis at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Indianapolis has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #372 of 593 in Indiana State. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Indianapolis flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,638 claims in Indianapolis since 1978, $18.8M in all, or 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 211 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (72).
Is Indianapolis 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.
How much is flood insurance in Indianapolis?
Indianapolis is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Indianapolis?
By FEMA money that reached Indianapolis, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 3,475 households applied for aid, $6.9M approved. By flood claims, Storm: 72 paid, $1.7M.
Is Indianapolis at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Indianapolis’ rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Indianapolis.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Indianapolis’ 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.