Enter any address in Hamilton County, Indiana to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Hamilton County, Indiana. Recent examples include widespread flash flooding and major river stage increases following 2-4.5 inches of rain in April 2025, and torrential downpours impacting the Indianapolis Metro and surrounding counties in August 2024.
Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 53 flood events and 26 flash flood events, resulting in 4 fatalities. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $9,657 and an average water depth of 2.1 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have seen fewer claims but higher average payouts and water depths.
Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, or Zone X_UNSHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk. These zones have experienced NFIP claims with significant water depths and payouts, suggesting a higher potential for flood damage.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
29 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hamilton County, Indiana has recorded 79 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 26 flash floods and 53 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Jan 5, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 30, 2008 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 12, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 1, 2005 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 21, 2004 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 25, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2024 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Mar 18, 2021 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2020 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2020 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Jun 16, 2019 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Feb 7, 2019 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 1.00K |
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.
Flood — Apr 11, 2024
A deep, amplified upper trough encompassing most of North America phased with a broad area of surface low pressure slowly approaching central Indiana from the Mississippi Delta region. Resultant strong advection of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico produced heavy rain from the 10th afternoon to the morning of the 11th, with a southwest to northeast band of 2.00 to 3.00 inches of rainfall acros...
Flash Flood — Aug 1, 2024
A remnant southwest to northeast boundary from early morning convection combined with an approaching upper trough and associated cold front, as well as anomalous precipitable water values up to 2.00 inches and CAPE around 2000 J/kg. Resultant thunderstorms came in two phases, first a marginally severe bow echo that crossed far southwestern central Indiana, and then torrential, training downpou...
Flood — Mar 18, 2021
During the daytime hours of March 18th, a strong weather system was moving through Indiana with periods of strong gradient winds much of the day with periods of heavy rain during the afternoon and evening hours. Overall impacts were fairly minimal, but a few stronger gusts caused isolated damage.
Flash Flood — Mar 28, 2020
On March 28th, a strong low pressure system brought 3 rounds of severe thunderstorms to central Indiana. The first round brought widespread 1 to 1.75 inch hail to much of the area with the second event bringing additional large hail and flash flooding. A third round during the late evening and overnight brought additional heavy rain and damaging wind gusts. A microburst caused an intense ar...
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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.