Photo: Evking22 · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Penn Township than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Penn Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #56 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 37 claims here since 1982.
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 Penn Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Penn 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 Penn Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Penn Township, and Penn Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
A #56 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Penn Township’s residents live in 19 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, Penn Township has less expected damage per building than 91% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.1M a year in losses across Penn Township: $8.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Penn Township flood? Sometimes: 37 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Penn Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike2 claims · $8K
Penn 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: St. Joseph County.The storms Penn Township remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for St. Joseph County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Penn Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 198214 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19968 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20085 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County has had 14 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 Penn Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Penn Township archive →Penn Township and its neighbors
Penn Township is 10th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Centre Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Cleveland Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Portage Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Harris Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| South Bend | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Granger | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Baugo Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Mishawaka | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Penn Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Madison Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Penn 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 Penn Township
Is Penn Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Penn Township has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #56 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Penn Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 37 claims in Penn Township since 1982, $298K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (2).
Is Penn 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 St. Joseph County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Penn Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Penn 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 Penn Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 2 paid, $8K.
Is Penn Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Penn Township’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Penn Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Penn 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.