FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Sheffield Township than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sheffield Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #72 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1985.
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 Sheffield 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
Earthquakes
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 Sheffield Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sheffield Township, and Sheffield Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 9% (higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts).
A #72 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Sheffield Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Indiana town has lower expected damage than 60% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sheffield Township has less expected damage per building than 88% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Sheffield Township: $754K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sheffield Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sheffield Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $6K
Sheffield 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: Tippecanoe County.The storms Sheffield Township remembers
None of the 11 disasters declared for Tippecanoe County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Sheffield Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19851 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20111 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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 Sheffield Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sheffield Township archive →Sheffield Township and its neighbors
Sheffield Township is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wea Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Sheffield Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Lauramie Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Perry Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Madison Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
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 Sheffield 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Sheffield Township
Is Sheffield Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sheffield Township has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #72 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and earthquakes (9%). 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.
Does Sheffield Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Sheffield Township since 1985, $11K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).
Is Sheffield 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 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 Sheffield Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sheffield Township’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 Sheffield Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $6K.
Is Sheffield Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Sheffield Township’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sheffield Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sheffield 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.