Photo: Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Shadeland than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shadeland gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). 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 Shadeland 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
Hail
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 Shadeland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shadeland, and Shadeland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 7% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
A− lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shadeland’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $679K a year in losses across Shadeland: $405K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shadeland flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Shadeland. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Shadeland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tippecanoe County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Shadeland
Disasters that paid out in Shadeland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Shadeland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$3K to the Town of Shadeland for repairs
Tippecanoe County has had 11 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 Shadeland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shadeland archive →Shadeland and its neighbors
Shadeland is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wabash Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Lafayette | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Fairfield Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Wea Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Union Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wayne Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Shadeland | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
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 Shadeland 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.
- 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.
- 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 Shadeland
Is Shadeland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shadeland has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hail (7%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Shadeland 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 Tippecanoe County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shadeland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shadeland’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 Shadeland?
By FEMA money that reached Shadeland, In-winter Storm 12/23/98 (1999): $3K to the Town of Shadeland for repairs.
Is Shadeland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Shadeland’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shadeland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shadeland’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.