Enter any address in Owen County, Indiana to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Owen County. Recent events include a flash flood on July 17, 2025, caused by a slow-moving cold front interacting with a humid airmass, and significant flash flooding across Owen and Monroe counties on June 18, 2021, which resulted in one fatality.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a mix of flood zones with varying claim payouts and water depths. Zone A experienced 92 claims with an average payout of $22,667 and an average water depth of 3.6 feet. Zone X_UNSHADED had 7 claims with a higher average payout of $41,970 and an average water depth of 12.1 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those near creeks and rivers, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
22 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Owen County, Indiana has recorded 103 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 28 flash floods and 75 river or area floods. The county has received 19 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 (1990–2026)
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 |
| 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 Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Jan 5, 2014 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 17, 2025 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 5, 2025 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2021 | 20.00M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 8, 2018 | 0.50K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 3, 2018 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2017 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jun 24, 2014 | 0.50K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2014 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 21, 2013 | 5.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2013 | 2.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 17, 2025
On July 17, 2025, a slow-moving cold front interacted with a humid and unstable airmass over central and southern Indiana. This synoptic setup led to isolated but potent thunderstorms that produced a primary hazard of flash flooding, rather than the damaging winds or tornadoes seen in previous events. The day's weather pattern was dominated by a stalled cold front, which served as a focal point...
Flash Flood — Apr 5, 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 — Jun 18, 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 — Sep 8, 2018
The remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon interacted with a surface front to produce widespread heavy rain across much of central Indiana. The moisture content of the atmosphere was very high. Precipitable water, a measure of moisture content in the atmosphere, is normally around 1 inch for early September in Indiana. Precipitable water amounts approached 2 inches for parts of the area on September...
Flash Flood — Apr 3, 2018
A low pressure system generated numerous thunderstorms across central Indiana on April 3rd. The first few rounds of thunderstorms produced heavy rain and flooding across the area, while the final round of thunderstorms brought damaging winds and a couple of tornadoes.
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 Owen 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 Owen 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.