Photo: Henry the heron at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Tell City faces more hazard damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tell City gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #572 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1978.
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 Tell City 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
Earthquakes
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 Tell City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tell City, and Tell City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 11%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #572 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tell City’s residents live in 3 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, Tell City has more expected damage per building than 96% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Tell City: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tell City flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tell City, from FEMA’s records: 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Tell City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Perry County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tell City
Disasters that paid out in Tell City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Tell City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$192K to the City of Tell City for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$29K to the City of Tell City for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and$158K to the City of Tell City for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$107K to the City of Tell City for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding131 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$136K to the City of Tell City for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$106K to the City of Tell City for repairs
Show all 10
- 2004Snow$22K to the City of Tell City for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$25K to the City of Tell City for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$100K to the City of Tell City for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$3K to the City of Tell City for repairs
Perry County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Tell City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tell City archive →Tell City and its neighbors
Tell City has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tell City | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Troy Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
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 Tell City 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Tell City
Is Tell City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tell City has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #572 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tell City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Tell City since 1978, $70K in all, or 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Tell City 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 Perry County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tell City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tell City’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 Tell City?
By FEMA money that reached Tell City, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2025): $192K to the City of Tell City for repairs.
Is Tell City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Tell City’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tell City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tell City’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.