FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Polk Township than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Polk Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #543 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then tornadoes (14%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Polk 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
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 Polk Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Polk Township, and Polk Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 14%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C #543 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Polk 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, Polk Township has more expected damage per building than 92% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Polk Township: $685K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Polk Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Polk Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Polk 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: Washington County.The storms Polk Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Washington County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Polk Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Washington County has had 17 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.
Polk Township and its neighbors
Polk Township is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Washington Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Polk Township | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Pierce Township | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wood Township | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Monroe Township | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Jackson Township | C−more damage than 79% | 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 Polk 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.
- 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 Polk Township
Is Polk Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Polk Township has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #543 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Polk 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 Washington County, 3% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Polk Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Polk Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Polk Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Polk Township’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Polk Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Polk 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.