FEMA puts Smith Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Smith Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #76 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then tornadoes (21%). 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 Smith 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 Smith Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Smith Township, and Smith Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 21% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
A #76 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Smith Township’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, Smith Township has less expected damage per building than 87% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Smith Township: $768K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Smith Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Smith Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Smith 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: Whitley County.The storms Smith Township remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Whitley County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Smith Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Whitley County has had 12 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.
Smith Township and its neighbors
Smith Township is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Tri-Lakes | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Thorncreek Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Smith Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Churubusco | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Eel River Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Green Township | B+less damage than 74% | 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 Smith 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 Smith Township
Is Smith Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Smith Township has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #76 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and tornadoes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Smith 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 Whitley County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Smith Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Smith Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Smith Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Smith Township’s rate for it is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Smith Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Smith 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.