Photo: Timothy K Hamilton Creativity+ Photography · CC BY 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in New Harmony
New Harmony isn’t graded for hazard risk: New Harmony has 845 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1983.
What New Harmony 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
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.
Does New Harmony flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Harmony, from FEMA’s records.
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $7K
New Harmony isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Posey County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Harmony
Disasters that paid out in New Harmony itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of New Harmony), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and$22K to the Town of New Harmony for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$3K to the Town of New Harmony for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes1 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$12K to the Town of New Harmony for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$11K to the Town of New Harmony for repairs
Posey County has had 16 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 New Harmony after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Harmony archive →Get ready for what New Harmony 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.
- 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 New Harmony
Does New Harmony flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in New Harmony since 1983, $8K in all. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).
Is New Harmony 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 Posey County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Harmony?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Harmony’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 New Harmony?
By FEMA money that reached New Harmony, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and (2011): $22K to the Town of New Harmony for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $7K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Harmony.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Harmony’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.