Photo: Missvain · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Washington Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #397 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 903 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 stands out about Washington Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Washington 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
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 Washington Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Washington Township, and Washington Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #397 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Washington Township’s residents live in 40 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, Washington Township has more expected damage per building than 67% of Indiana towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Washington Township has lower expected damage per building than 61% (#155 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $47.2M, is the 261th largest of those 400.
Does Washington Township flood? Yes: 903 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Washington Township, from FEMA’s records: 13.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding53 claims · $1.5M
- The Storm5 claims · $23K
Washington 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: Marion County.The storms Washington Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Marion County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Washington Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 2003160 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Marion County
- 1990112 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Marion County
- 2005109 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms and Flooding, declared for Marion County
Marion County has had 16 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 Washington Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Washington Township archive →Washington Township and its neighbors
Washington Township is 6th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Carmel | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Clay Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Indianapolis | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,638 |
| Pike Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Washington Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 903 |
| Center Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Wayne Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 137 |
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 Washington 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.
- 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 Washington Township
Is Washington Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Township has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #397 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Washington Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 903 claims in Washington Township since 1978, $10.1M in all, or 13.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding (53).
Is Washington 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 Marion County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Washington Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Washington 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 Washington Township?
By flood claims, 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding: 53 paid, $1.5M.
Is Washington Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Washington Township’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Washington Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Washington 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.