Glenn A. Black House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Knight Township than in 70% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Knight Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #554 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%), then earthquakes (38%). Flood insurance has paid 169 claims here since 1979.
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 Knight Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Knight 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
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
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 Knight Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Knight Township, and Knight Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #554 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Knight Township’s residents live in 22 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, Knight Township has more expected damage per building than 93% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $33.0M a year in losses across Knight Township: $21.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Knight Township flood? Yes: 169 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Knight Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms5 claims · $101K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding2 claims · $42K
- The March storm2 claims · $38K
Knight 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: Vanderburgh County.The storms Knight Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Vanderburgh County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Knight Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 198043 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 200631 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Vanderburgh County
- 200512 flood claims paidThe year of Tornado and Severe Storms, declared for Vanderburgh County
Vanderburgh 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 Knight Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Knight Township archive →Knight Township and its neighbors
Knight Township is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pigeon Township | Cmore damage than 67% | earthquakes | 77 |
| Campbell Township | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Knight Township | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 169 |
| Ohio Township | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Evansville | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 408 |
| Center Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Melody Hill | Dmore damage than 86% | 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 Knight 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Knight Township
Is Knight Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Knight Township has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #554 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%) and earthquakes (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Knight Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 169 claims in Knight Township since 1979, $1.4M in all, or 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (5).
Is Knight 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 Vanderburgh County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Knight Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Knight Township’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 Knight Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 5 paid, $101K.
Is Knight Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Knight Township’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Knight Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Knight 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.