Cole-Evans House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainNoblesville’s building-damage rate from tornadoes is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Noblesville gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #441 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 129 claims here since 1979.
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 Noblesville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Noblesville 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 Noblesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Noblesville, and Noblesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 17%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #441 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Noblesville’s residents live in 16 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, Noblesville has more expected damage per building than 74% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.5M a year in losses across Noblesville: $18.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Noblesville flood? Yes: 129 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Noblesville, from FEMA’s records: 4.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding4 claims · $159K
- The Storm2 claims · $27K
Noblesville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Hamilton County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Noblesville
Disasters that paid out in Noblesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Noblesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding185 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2014Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$63K to the City of Noblesville for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes7 households applied for aid$1K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Snow$78K to the City of Noblesville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$15K aid approved16 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Snow$53K to the City of Noblesville for repairs
Show all 10
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding21 households applied for aid$32K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding50 households applied for aid$284K aid approved
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$26K to the City of Noblesville for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
Hamilton County has had 17 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 Noblesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Noblesville archive →Noblesville and its neighbors
Noblesville is 7th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Westfield | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Clay Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Carmel | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Fishers | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Fall Creek Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Noblesville | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| Wayne Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Noblesville Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Noblesville 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.
- Noblesville residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Noblesville
Is Noblesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Noblesville has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #441 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Noblesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 129 claims in Noblesville since 1979, $1.8M in all, or 4.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding (4).
Is Noblesville 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 Hamilton County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Noblesville?
Noblesville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Noblesville?
By FEMA money that reached Noblesville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 185 households applied for aid, $1.6M approved. By flood claims, 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding: 4 paid, $159K.
Is Noblesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Noblesville’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Noblesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Noblesville’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.