Howard School · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Whitestown than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Whitestown gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #229 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). 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 Whitestown 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
Hail
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 Whitestown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Whitestown, and Whitestown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 6% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #229 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Whitestown’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, Whitestown has less expected damage per building than 61% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Whitestown: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Whitestown flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Whitestown. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Whitestown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Boone County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Whitestown
Disasters that paid out in Whitestown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Whitestown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs
- 2007Snow$8K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Boone County has had 15 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 Whitestown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Whitestown archive →Whitestown and its neighbors
Whitestown is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Worth Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Whitestown | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Zionsville | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Lebanon | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
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 Whitestown 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Whitestown
Is Whitestown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Whitestown has lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #229 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hail (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Whitestown 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 Boone County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Whitestown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Whitestown’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 Whitestown?
By FEMA money that reached Whitestown, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2014): $22K to the Town of Whitestown for repairs.
Is Whitestown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Whitestown’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Whitestown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Whitestown’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.