Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Colon 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, Colon gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1980.
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 Colon 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
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 Colon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Colon, and Colon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 6% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
B− higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Colon’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $427K a year in losses across Colon: $324K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Colon flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Colon, from FEMA’s records: 11.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Colon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Joseph County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Colon
Disasters that paid out in Colon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Colon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2000Snow$2K to the Village of Colon for repairs
- 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99$2K to the Village of Colon for repairs
St. Joseph County has had 5 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Colon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Colon archive →Get ready for what Colon 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.
- 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 Colon
Is Colon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colon has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hail (6%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Colon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Colon since 1980, $267K in all, or 11.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Colon 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 St. Joseph County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Colon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Colon’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 Colon?
By FEMA money that reached Colon, Snow (2000): $2K to the Village of Colon for repairs.
Is Colon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Colon’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Colon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Colon’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.