Photo: Emmmmh · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Muncie 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, Muncie gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #342 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 100 claims here since 1980.
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 Muncie’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Muncie 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 Muncie’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Muncie, and Muncie’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B #342 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Muncie’s residents live in 25 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, Muncie has more expected damage per building than 58% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.5M a year in losses across Muncie: $15.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Muncie flood? Yes: 100 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Muncie, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding17 claims · $621K
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $44K
Muncie isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Muncie
Disasters that paid out in Muncie itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Muncie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding1,068 households applied for aid$6.1M aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Snow$63K to the City of Muncie for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding3,101 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$2.7M to the City of Muncie for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Snow$46K to the City of Muncie for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding129 households applied for aid$269K aid approved
Show all 8
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding143 households applied for aid$219K aid approved
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$39K to the City of Muncie for repairs
Delaware County has had 15 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 Muncie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Muncie archive →Muncie and its neighbors
Muncie is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Hamilton Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Center Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 109 |
| Muncie | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 100 |
| Yorktown | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Muncie 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Muncie
Is Muncie at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Muncie has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #342 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Muncie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 100 claims in Muncie since 1980, $1.7M in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding (17).
Is Muncie 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 Delaware County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Muncie?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Muncie’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 Muncie?
By FEMA money that reached Muncie, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 1,068 households applied for aid, $6.1M approved. By flood claims, 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding: 17 paid, $621K.
Is Muncie at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Muncie’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Muncie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Muncie’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.