Pinhook Methodist Church and Cemetery · Photo: Chris Light · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, New Durham Township faces less hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Durham Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #25 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then tornadoes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2005.
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 New Durham 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
Hail
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 New Durham Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Durham Township, and New Durham Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 20% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #25 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Durham 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, New Durham Township has less expected damage per building than 96% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across New Durham Township: $856K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Durham Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Durham Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
New Durham 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: LaPorte County.The storms New Durham Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for LaPorte County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching New Durham Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20051 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms and Flooding, declared for LaPorte County
- 20201 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
LaPorte County has had 15 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 New Durham Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Durham Township archive →New Durham Township and its neighbors
New Durham Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Durham Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Scipio Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Coolspring Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Jackson Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Clinton Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 New Durham 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 New Durham Township
Is New Durham Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Durham Township has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #25 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and tornadoes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Durham Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in New Durham Township since 2005, $16K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is New Durham 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 LaPorte County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Durham Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Durham Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is New Durham Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and New Durham Township’s rate for it is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Durham Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Durham 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.