Thomas A. Hendricks House and Stone Head Road Marker · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Van Buren Township than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Van Buren Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2008.
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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Van Buren Township, and Van Buren Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 12%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Van Buren Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Van Buren Township: $800K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Van Buren Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Van Buren Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm1 claim · $25K
Van Buren 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: Brown County.The storms Van Buren Township remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Brown County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Van Buren Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20081 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, declared for Brown County
- 20151 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20191 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Brown County has had 14 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 Van Buren Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Van Buren Township archive →Van Buren Township and its neighbors
Van Buren Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ohio Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Pershing Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Washington Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Van Buren Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Salt Creek Township | — | 395 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren Township
Is Van Buren Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Van Buren Township has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Van Buren Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Van Buren Township since 2008, $156K in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Storm (1).
Is Van Buren 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 Brown County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Van Buren Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Van Buren 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 Van Buren Township?
By flood claims, Storm: 1 paid, $25K.
Is Van Buren Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Van Buren Township’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Van Buren Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Van Buren 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.