Enter any address in Bartholomew County, Indiana to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is a significant flood risk in Bartholomew County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA data shows 58 flood and flash flood events, resulting in 4 fatalities. Recent events include widespread flash flooding and river flooding reaching major stages in April 2025 following heavy rainfall, and significant flash flooding in June 2021.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A, which have experienced the highest number of claims, average over 10 feet of water depth. While Zone X properties have fewer claims, their average payout is higher than Zone A, with an average water depth of 7.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
24 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Bartholomew County, Indiana has recorded 58 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 19 flash floods and 39 river or area floods. The county has received 12 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 30, 2025 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 30, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 1, 2005 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 21, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Sep 20, 2002 |
| Blizzard Of 96 | Flood | Jan 6, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 6, 2025 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2021 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2021 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2019 | 40.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 7, 2019 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 5, 2019 | 45.00K |
| Flood | Jun 13, 2018 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jun 13, 2018 | 8.00K |
| Flood | Jun 13, 2018 | 30.00K |
Flood — Apr 6, 2025
The final round of rain in a stretch of 4 days brought rain amounts of 2-4.5 inches of rain to central Indiana in addition to the 3-5 inches that had fallen. This led to additional widespread flash flooding and exacerbated ongoing creek and river flooding to a point that many main stem rivers ended up reaching major flood stage.
Flash Flood — Apr 4, 2025
The final round of rain in a stretch of 4 days brought rain amounts of 2-4.5 inches of rain to central Indiana in addition to the 3-5 inches that had fallen. This led to additional widespread flash flooding and exacerbated ongoing creek and river flooding to a point that many main stem rivers ended up reaching major flood stage.
Flash Flood — Jul 29, 2021
A very warm and humid air mass combined with a slowly-approaching west-to-east cold front to initiate scattered evening thunderstorms. Severe weather occurred in the most favorable environment, to the southeast of Indianapolis, wherein 3000-4000 MLCAPE, 125-175 0-3 km MLCAPE, and 100-200 effective storm relative helicity combined to form an intense, nearly-stationary QLCS. Two EF-1 tornadoes,...
Flash Flood — Jun 19, 2021
A long lasting and multi faceted storm system moved through central Indiana beginning during the late afternoon hours of June 18th and continued through the evening hours with widespread damaging winds and very large hail before transitioning into a flash flooding event during the overnight hours with significant flash flooding occurring across portions of Owen and Monroe counties. Unfortunate...
Flash Flood — Jun 15, 2019
A warm front brought severe storms, tornadoes, and heavy rain on June 15th. A significant tornado outbreak that was the largest since November 17, 2013 occurred during the evening of Saturday, June 15th. Seven tornadoes occurred in central Indiana with 3 additional tornadoes across portions of eastern Indiana.||This is what the environment showed. A weak shortwave trough was moving through cent...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Bartholomew County, Indiana:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Bartholomew County, Indiana that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.