Photo: JoeyBLS · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Lake Station 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, Lake Station gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #360 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 110 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 Lake Station’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lake Station 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
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 Lake Station’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Station, and Lake Station’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B #360 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Station’s residents live in 4 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, Lake Station has more expected damage per building than 61% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Lake Station: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Station flood? Yes: 110 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Station, from FEMA’s records: 22.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike67 claims · $3.8M
Lake Station isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lake County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lake Station
Disasters that paid out in Lake Station itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lake Station), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding1,298 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding31 households applied for aid$53K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding624 households applied for aid$3.5M aid approved$876K to the City of Lake Station for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding67 households applied for aid$175K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2007Snow$27K to the City of Lake Station for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2000Snow$13K to the City of Lake Station for repairs
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$24K to the City of Lake Station for repairs
Lake County has had 20 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 Lake Station after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Station archive →Lake Station and its neighbors
Lake Station is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Chicago | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Gary | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 83 |
| Calumet Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 293 |
| Hobart | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Hobart Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Lake Station | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
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 Lake Station 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.
- 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 Lake Station
Is Lake Station at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Station has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #360 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lake Station flood?
Flood insurance has paid 110 claims in Lake Station since 1979, $4.4M in all, or 22.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 24 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (67).
Is Lake Station 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 Lake County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lake Station?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake Station’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 Lake Station?
By FEMA money that reached Lake Station, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 624 households applied for aid, $3.5M approved, and $876K to the City of Lake Station for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 67 paid, $3.8M.
Is Lake Station at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Lake Station’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Station.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Station’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.