Enter any address in Lake County, Indiana to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event recorded in Lake County, Indiana over the last 30 years, with 36 such events documented by NOAA, alongside 51 general flood events. Recent examples include localized flooding on July 26th and more significant events on August 18th, which brought torrential rain and an estimated $4 million in damages to around 1,000 structures in the county. Another flood event occurred on December 28th, with rainfall totals reaching nearly four inches in some areas.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $17,752 and an average water depth of 5.4 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have also seen substantial payouts, averaging $23,733, though with a lower average water depth of 1.1 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
15 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lake County, Indiana has recorded 97 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 36 flash floods and 51 river or area floods. The county has received 22 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 (1977–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Mar 31, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Feb 14, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Jan 5, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 8, 2009 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 12, 2008 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 7, 2008 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 15, 2007 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Dec 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 26, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2025 | 4.00M |
| Flood | Aug 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 17, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 17, 2023 | 10.00M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 25, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 24, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flood — Dec 28, 2025
Periods of heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms produced flooding across parts of far northwest Indiana on December 28th. Storm total rainfall amounts included 3.98 inches three miles east of Portage; 3.51 inches in St. John; 3.33 inches one mile east of Schererville; 2.95 inches one mile south of Merrillville; 2.74 inches in Porter and 2.35 inches two miles north northwest of Portage.
Flood — Jul 26, 2025
Scattered thunderstorms moved across portions of northwest Indiana during the morning and afternoon of July 26th producing localized flooding.
Flood — Aug 19, 2025
A series of strong thunderstorms brought torrential rain and flooding to portions of far northwestern Indiana during the evening and night of the 18th. Automated rain gauges and Cocorahs reports from northern Lake and Porter Counties generally ranged between two and four inches with isolated reports closer to five inches. Initial estimates have around 1,000 structures flooded in Lake County amo...
Flash Flood — Aug 18, 2025
A series of strong thunderstorms brought torrential rain and flooding to portions of far northwestern Indiana during the evening and night of the 18th. Automated rain gauges and Cocorahs reports from northern Lake and Porter Counties generally ranged between two and four inches with isolated reports closer to five inches. Initial estimates have around 1,000 structures flooded in Lake County amo...
Flood — Aug 17, 2025
Thunderstorms produced strong winds and torrential rainfall over portions of northwest Indiana during the night of the 16th.
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 Lake 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 Lake 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.