Photo: Indiana Mosaic · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Yorktown 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, Yorktown gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #451 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2002.
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 Yorktown 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 Yorktown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Yorktown, and Yorktown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #451 of 593 in Indiana; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Yorktown’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, Yorktown has more expected damage per building than 76% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Yorktown: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Yorktown flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2002
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Yorktown, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding2 claims · $15K
Yorktown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Yorktown
Disasters that paid out in Yorktown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Yorktown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding78 households applied for aid$416K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Snow$12K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding260 households applied for aid$187K aid approved$54K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs
- 2004Snow$4K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding16 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
Show all 7
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$5K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs
Delaware 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 Yorktown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Yorktown archive →Yorktown and its neighbors
Yorktown is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Harrison Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Center Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 109 |
| Muncie | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 100 |
| Richland Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Yorktown | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Yorktown 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 Yorktown
Is Yorktown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yorktown has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #451 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 Yorktown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Yorktown since 2002, $22K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding (2).
Is Yorktown 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 Delaware County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Yorktown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Yorktown’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 Yorktown?
By FEMA money that reached Yorktown, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 78 households applied for aid, $416K approved. By flood claims, 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding: 2 paid, $15K.
Is Yorktown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Yorktown’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Yorktown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Yorktown’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.