Photo: JoeyBLS · Public domainFEMA puts St. John’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. John gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #276 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2007.
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 St. John 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 St. John’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. John, and St. John’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 13% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B #276 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
St. John’s residents live in 9 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, St. John has less expected damage per building than 54% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.1M a year in losses across St. John: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does St. John flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2007
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. John, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
St. John 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to St. John
Disasters that paid out in St. John itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of St. John), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding449 households applied for aid$670K aid approved
- 2014Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of St. John for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$71K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$14K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$16K 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 St. John after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. John archive →St. John and its neighbors
St. John is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanover Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| 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 |
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 St. John 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 St. John
Is St. John at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. John has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #276 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. John flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in St. John since 2007, $225K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is St. John 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 St. John?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. John’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 St. John?
By FEMA money that reached St. John, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 449 households applied for aid, $670K approved.
Is St. John at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and St. John’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. John.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. John’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.