96 flood insurance claims·$1.0M paid·3 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Jackson County, Indiana. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
River and general flooding dominate the historical record in Jackson County, Indiana, accounting for 103 events and 3 deaths compared to 30 flash flood events over the last 30 years.
Severe weather patterns are documented in recent historical narratives, such as a heavy rain event from January 9th through the 11th, 2020, which brought 3 to 5 inches of rainfall to the area. Another multi-day system brought severe weather and flooding from June 15th through the 17th, 2019, driven by a stalled front and repeated rounds of heavy rain.
National Flood Insurance Program records indicate that policyholders in multiple zones experience significant impacts. Zone A recorded 61 claims with an average payout of $11,032 and an average recorded water depth of 9 inches. Meanwhile, Zone X properties experienced 15 claims with an average payout of $23,854 and an average recorded water depth of 20 inches, and Zone X unshaded properties saw 12 claims with an average payout of $22,552 and an average recorded water depth of 11 inches. Homeowners and real estate professionals working in both designated high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas and moderate-to-low risk Zone X areas should pay close attention to these historical payout and water depth patterns.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
20% of Jackson County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
76 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 10 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2008, with 39 claims and $475,763 paid, the year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes and Severe Storms and Flooding.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
32 NOAA storm reports from Jackson County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Indiana flood stories →
17 federal disaster declarations since 1974, 3 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Sep 12, 2008 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | May 30, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Jan 1, 2005 |
| Snow | Dec 21, 2004 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
133 since 1996: 30 flash floods and 103 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2021 | — |
| Flood | Jan 11, 2020 | $15,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2020 | $3,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2019 | $1,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 5, 2019 | $50,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 5, 2019 | $70,000 |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | $1,000 |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2017 | $1,000 |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
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. Unfortunately, one person lost…
Flood · Jan 11, 2020. A period of heavy rain occurred from January 9th through the 11th that brought 3 to 5 inches of rain to the area. During the period of heavy rain a few thunderstorms brought gusty winds.
Flash Flood · Aug 10, 2020. On August 10th, an intense derecho brought severe to extreme winds to much of the Midwest with winds estimated as high as 130 to 140 mph in Iowa. As the derecho neared Indiana, the storms were not quite as intense, but did produce measured winds up to 70 mph and caused significant tree damage and power outages to the local area. Over 100,000 people were without power at one point with power outages lasting severa…
Flash Flood · Jun 16, 2019. Central Indiana saw severe weather and flooding June 15th through the 17th. A warm front brought severe storms, tornadoes, and heavy rain on June 15th. The stalled front and upper waves brought more heavy rain and some severe storms on June 16th and 17th. The repeated rounds of heavy rain caused flooding across the area.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Jackson County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.