Enter any address in White County, Indiana to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in White County, Indiana. Between 1996 and 2016, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 19 flash flood events and 4 flood events. For example, localized flooding occurred in June 2015 due to training thunderstorms, and flash flooding developed in July 2011 from severe thunderstorms interacting with a lake breeze.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data from White County shows a significant number of claims in Zone A (136 claims) and Zone X (24 claims). Zone A claims averaged $19,610 with an average water depth of 7.1 feet, while Zone X claims averaged $25,685 with an average water depth of 6.8 feet. Properties in these zones, as well as those in Zone UNKNOWN with 23 claims, may warrant the most attention.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
White County, Indiana has recorded 23 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 19 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 17 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2026)
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 | Jan 7, 2008 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 12, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 20, 2018 | 230.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 1, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 11, 2009 | 1.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2008 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 8, 2008 | 2.00M |
| Flood | Jan 8, 2008 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2006 | — |
Flood — Feb 20, 2018
A slow release of a snow pack, containing one to over two inches of water, occurred in the days leading to the event which started the process of river rises in many areas. Low pressure tracked from northwest Iowa into northern Lower Michigan, which ushered in a rapid warmup and equally rapid release of any remaining water in the snow-pack. Several rounds of rain occurred between the 19th and 2...
Flood — Jun 12, 2015
Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of a low pressure center which moved through the area. With moderate instability and shear, numerous severe storms developed with several reports of damaging winds. In addition, storm motion nearly parallel to the frontal boundary caused training storms and localized flooding in a few locations.
Flash Flood — Jun 1, 2013
Convection moved into the region during the evening hours of May 31st. Although this weakened, the remnants of it provided a west to east focus for continued development of showers and thunderstorms. Precipitable water values of around 2 inches were in place, with training of cells common into the overnight hours of June 1st. To further complicate matters, the comma head of a large bow echo pro...
Flash Flood — Jul 2, 2011
Two lifting mechanisms, a cold front and a lake breeze, interacted with an extremely unstable, but poorly sheared environment, to allow for thunderstorm development. Initially discrete cells posed a hail threat, but eventually congealed into several bowing segments.
Flash Flood — Jun 22, 2010
Thunderstorms developed across much of northern Indiana during the overnight hours and persisted through the first part of the morning. Several inches of rain fell, causing flooding across southern portions of White County. In addition, isolated wind damage was noted in DeKalb County.
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 White 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 White 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.