25 flood insurance claims·$143,302 paid·2 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 Randolph 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.
Flash flooding from slow-moving or backbuilding summer thunderstorms dominates the flood risk profile in Randolph County, which recorded 26 flash flood events and 20 general flood events over the last 30 years according to the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Severe storms frequently produce localized heavy rainfall. For example, slow-moving thunderstorms caused isolated flash flooding on June 12, 2021, when some areas received up to 3 inches of rain. Heavy rainfall also accompanied strong low-pressure systems and severe thunderstorms on March 28, 2020, and the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon produced 1 to 4 inches of rain on September 7, 2018.
National Flood Insurance Program records show that flood claims and payouts occur across multiple zones. High-risk Zone A accounts for 13 claims with an average payout of $12,127 and an average recorded water depth of 1 inch. Meanwhile, moderate-to-low risk Zone X recorded 8 claims averaging $4408 with an average water depth of 2 inches, and Zone X_UNSHADED recorded 3 claims averaging $1650 with an average water depth of 2 inches. One claim in an unknown zone averaged $6060 with an average water depth of 3 inches. Homeowners in mapped high-risk Zone A areas and properties located in lower-risk Zone X areas that experience localized stormwater accumulation should pay the closest attention to these risks.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 2 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 2026, with 3 claims and $23,722 paid.
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.
11 NOAA storm reports from Randolph County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Indiana flood stories →
18 federal disaster declarations since 1974, 2 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | May 30, 2008 |
| Snow | Feb 12, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Jan 1, 2005 |
| Snow | Dec 21, 2004 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Aug 26, 2003 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Jul 4, 2003 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
46 since 1996: 26 flash floods and 20 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 12, 2021 | $5,000 |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2020 | $10,000 |
| Flash Flood | Sep 7, 2018 | $1,000 |
| Flood | Nov 5, 2017 | $3,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2014 | $1,000 |
| Flash Flood | Dec 22, 2013 | $5,000 |
| Flood | Aug 4, 2012 | $500 |
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2010 | $500 |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jun 12, 2021. During the late evening hours of June 12th, a series of thunderstorms slowly moved through central Indiana from the north. An outflow boundary in eastern Marion county led to additional thunderstorm growth north of Indianapolis that eventually would bring damaging winds and large hail to portions of Indianapolis and western Hancock County. Slow storm motions and backbuilding led to some areas to receive up to 3 i…
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 area of significant da…
Flash Flood · Sep 7, 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 8th. Heavy rainfall…
Flood · Nov 5, 2017. Waves of low pressure moved along a strong cold front on November 5th, generating strong to severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours. Strong 850mb winds brought up plenty of moisture for the storms to work with and the storms produced some tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and flooding.
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 Randolph 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.