Photo: Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Zionsville 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, Zionsville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #302 of 593 in Indiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1979.
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 Zionsville 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
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 Zionsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Zionsville, and Zionsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 6% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
B #302 of 593 in Indiana; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Zionsville’s residents live in 6 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, Zionsville has more expected damage per building than 51% of Indiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.3M a year in losses across Zionsville: $8.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Zionsville flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Zionsville, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Zionsville 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Zionsville
Disasters that paid out in Zionsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Zionsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2014Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$37K to the Town of Zionsville for repairs
- 2007Snow$19K to the Town of Zionsville for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding27 households applied for aid$53K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
Show all 7
- 1999In-winter Storm 12/23/98$11K to the Town of Zionsville for repairs
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 Zionsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Zionsville archive →Zionsville and its neighbors
Zionsville is 4th of the 10 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 | — |
| Zionsville | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Clay Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Carmel | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Lebanon | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Indianapolis | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,638 |
| Pike Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Marion Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Harrison Township | — | 725 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 Zionsville 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.
- 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 Zionsville
Is Zionsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Zionsville has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #302 of 593 in Indiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hail (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Zionsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Zionsville since 1979, $65K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Zionsville 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 Zionsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Zionsville’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 Zionsville?
By FEMA money that reached Zionsville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2003): 27 households applied for aid, $53K approved.
Is Zionsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Zionsville’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Zionsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Zionsville’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.