Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Rushville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rushville gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #377 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then tornadoes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1993.
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 Rushville 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
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.
What’s behind Rushville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rushville, and Rushville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 16%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #377 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rushville’s residents live in 4 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, Rushville has more expected damage per building than 64% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Rushville: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rushville flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rushville, from FEMA’s records: 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Rushville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rush County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rushville
Disasters that paid out in Rushville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rushville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding15 households applied for aid$78K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$17K to the City of Rushville for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes1 households applied for aid$688 aid approved
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$4K to the City of Rushville for repairs
- 2004Snow$9K to the City of Rushville for repairs
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$7K to the City of Rushville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Rush County has had 13 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 Rushville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rushville archive →Get ready for what Rushville 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.
- 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 Rushville
Is Rushville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rushville has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #377 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rushville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Rushville since 1993, $53K in all, or 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Rushville 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 Rush County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rushville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rushville’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 Rushville?
By FEMA money that reached Rushville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 15 households applied for aid, $78K approved.
Is Rushville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Rushville’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rushville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rushville’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.