Photo: Censusdata · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Jeffersonville’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jeffersonville gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #518 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 144 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 Jeffersonville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Jeffersonville 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 Jeffersonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Jeffersonville, and Jeffersonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 13%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #518 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Jeffersonville’s residents live in 15 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, Jeffersonville has more expected damage per building than 87% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $22.4M a year in losses across Jeffersonville: $12.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Jeffersonville flood? Yes: 144 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jeffersonville, from FEMA’s records: 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding11 claims · $910K
- The Mid-spring storms9 claims · $152K
Jeffersonville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Clark County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Jeffersonville
Disasters that paid out in Jeffersonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Jeffersonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$228K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding107 households applied for aid$220K aid approved$88K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes2 households applied for aid$3K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and$87K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$173K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding993 households applied for aid$159K aid approved$372K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 9
- 2004Snow$19K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$73K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding24 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$6K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs
Clark County has had 17 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 Jeffersonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Jeffersonville archive →Jeffersonville and its neighbors
Jeffersonville is 8th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestown | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Charlestown Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Utica | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 133 |
| Utica Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Silver Creek Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Clarksville | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Jeffersonville Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 275 |
| Jeffersonville | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 144 |
| Louisville | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Jeffersonville 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.
- Jeffersonville residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Jeffersonville
Is Jeffersonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jeffersonville has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #518 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Jeffersonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 144 claims in Jeffersonville since 1978, $3.0M in all, or 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 28 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (11).
Is Jeffersonville 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 Clark County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Jeffersonville?
Jeffersonville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Jeffersonville?
By FEMA money that reached Jeffersonville, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 993 households applied for aid, $159K approved, and $372K to the City of Jeffersonville for repairs. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 11 paid, $910K.
Is Jeffersonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Jeffersonville’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Jeffersonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Jeffersonville’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.