Photo: JoeyBLS · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Schererville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schererville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #320 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 21 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 Schererville 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 Schererville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Schererville, and Schererville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B #320 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Schererville’s residents live in 10 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, Schererville has more expected damage per building than 54% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.2M a year in losses across Schererville: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Schererville flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Schererville, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike8 claims · $818K
Schererville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lake County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Schererville
Disasters that paid out in Schererville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Schererville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding833 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding115 households applied for aid$260K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$495 aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding36 households applied for aid$107K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$661 aid approved
Lake County has had 20 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 Schererville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Schererville archive →Schererville and its neighbors
Schererville is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calumet Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 293 |
| Griffith | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 215 |
| St. John | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Schererville | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| St. John Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Dyer | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
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 Schererville 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 Schererville
Is Schererville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schererville has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #320 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Schererville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Schererville since 1979, $930K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (8).
Is Schererville 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 Lake County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Schererville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Schererville’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 Schererville?
By FEMA money that reached Schererville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 833 households applied for aid, $1.7M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 8 paid, $818K.
Is Schererville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Schererville’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Schererville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Schererville’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.