Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Martinsville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Martinsville gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #453 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 74 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 Martinsville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Martinsville 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 Martinsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Martinsville, and Martinsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #453 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Martinsville’s residents live in 5 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, Martinsville has more expected damage per building than 76% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Martinsville: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Martinsville flood? Sometimes: 74 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Martinsville, from FEMA’s records: 13.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm52 claims · $5.4M
Martinsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Morgan County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Martinsville
Disasters that paid out in Martinsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Martinsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$10K to the City of Martinsville for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes172 households applied for aid$135K aid approved$166K to the City of Martinsville for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$18K to the City of Martinsville for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes1,931 households applied for aid$9.7M aid approved$949K to the City of Martinsville for repairs52 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding25 households applied for aid$46K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2004Snow$10K to the City of Martinsville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding32 households applied for aid$91K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding13 households applied for aid$57K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms and Tornadoes$134K to the City of Martinsville for repairs
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$15K to the City of Martinsville for repairs
Morgan County has had 16 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 Martinsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Martinsville archive →Get ready for what Martinsville 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 Martinsville
Is Martinsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Martinsville has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #453 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Martinsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 74 claims in Martinsville since 1978, $5.7M in all, or 13.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (52).
Is Martinsville 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 Morgan County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Martinsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Martinsville’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 Martinsville?
By FEMA money that reached Martinsville, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2008): 1,931 households applied for aid, $9.7M approved, and $949K to the City of Martinsville for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 52 paid, $5.4M.
Is Martinsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Martinsville’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Martinsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Martinsville’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.