Needham Township’s building-damage rate from tornadoes is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Needham Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #508 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 40 claims here since 1990.
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 Needham 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
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 Needham Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Needham Township, and Needham Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 17%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #508 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Needham Township’s residents live in 3 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, Needham Township has more expected damage per building than 86% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Needham Township: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Needham Township flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Needham Township, from FEMA’s records: 12.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm17 claims · $598K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding2 claims · $170K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $2K
Needham 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: Johnson County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Needham Township
Disasters that paid out in Needham Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Needham Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
Johnson County has had 13 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 Needham Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Needham Township archive →Needham Township and its neighbors
Needham Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hendricks Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Blue River Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Franklin Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Needham Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Jackson Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Amity | — | 317 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Needham 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.
- 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 Needham Township
Is Needham Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Needham Township has higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #508 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Needham Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Needham Township since 1990, $1.1M in all, or 12.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Storm (17).
Is Needham 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 Johnson County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Needham Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Needham 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 Needham Township?
By FEMA money that reached Needham Township, Severe Winter Storms and Flooding (2005): 1 households applied for aid, $3K approved. By flood claims, Storm: 17 paid, $598K.
Is Needham Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Needham Township’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Needham Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Needham 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.