Natural hazards · Burns Harbor

Burns Harbor, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Burns Harbor comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Burns Harbor?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Burns Harbor to be higher than in 18% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding45%Tornadoes27%Cold waves18%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Burns Harbor faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

45% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 29% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

27% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Cold waves

18% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 19% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Burns Harbor flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Burns Harbor.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Burns Harbor isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Porter County.

Disasters that hit Burns Harbor

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Burns Harbor itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Burns Harbor.

Brought FEMA money into Burns HarborDeclared for Porter County only

2026

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

17 households applied for aid $8K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $609 aid approved $26K to the Town of Burns Harbor for repairs

2000

Snow

$4K to the Town of Burns Harbor for repairs

1999

In-Winter Storm 12/23/98

$5K to the Town of Burns Harbor for repairs

Porter County has had 13 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

Around Burns Harbor

Burns Harbor and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Libertymostly inland floodingLow

Portagemostly inland floodingLow

Chestertonmostly inland floodingLow

Westchestermostly inland floodingLow

Dune Acresmostly inland floodingLow

Portermostly inland floodingLow

Burns Harbormostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Burns Harbor covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Burns Harbor’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Burns Harbor. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Burns Harbor total about $1.5M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.