Miami County Courthouse · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Peru than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Peru gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 7 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 Peru 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
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 Peru’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Peru, and Peru’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #592 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Peru’s residents live in 5 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, Peru has more expected damage per building than 100% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.0M a year in losses across Peru: $5.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Peru flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Peru, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Peru isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Miami County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Peru
Disasters that paid out in Peru itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Peru), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Snow$20K to the City of Peru for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding161 households applied for aid$153K aid approved$48K to the City of Peru for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding83 households applied for aid$137K aid approved$6K to the City of Peru for repairs
- 2000Snow$14K to the City of Peru for repairs
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$14K to the City of Peru for repairs
Miami County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Peru after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Peru archive →Peru and its neighbors
Peru is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe Creek Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Washington Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Peru | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Peru 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 Peru 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.
- 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 Peru
Is Peru at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Peru has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Peru flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Peru since 1982, $13K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Peru 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 Miami County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Peru?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Peru’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 Peru?
By FEMA money that reached Peru, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2004): 161 households applied for aid, $153K approved, and $48K to the City of Peru for repairs.
Is Peru at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Peru’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Peru.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Peru’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.