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Natural hazards · Elkhart

Elkhart, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Elkhart comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 82 claims here since 1978. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Elkhart?

18
Very low
vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding52%Cold waves20%Tornadoes13%Strong wind5%Everything else10%
By hazard

What Elkhart faces

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

Inland flooding

52% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 36% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Cold waves

20% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 46% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 64% of U.S. places

Strong wind

5% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 40% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Elkhart flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elkhart, from FEMA’s records.

82paid claims since 1978
$626Kpaid to owners
2homes flooded more than once
19782026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Elkhart isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Elkhart County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

6flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters that hit Elkhart

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Elkhart itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Elkhart.

Brought FEMA money into ElkhartDeclared for Elkhart County only
2018

Severe Storms and Flooding

474 households applied for aid $739K aid approved $47K to the City of Elkhart for repairs
2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

137 households applied for aid $110K aid approved $348K to the City of Elkhart for repairs
2007

Snow

$54K to the City of Elkhart for repairs
2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

6 households applied for aid $2K aid approved
2000

Snow

$52K to the City of Elkhart for repairs
1999

In-Winter Storm 12/23/98

$50K to the City of Elkhart for repairs
Elkhart County has had 11 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and floods.
Around Elkhart

Elkhart and the towns around it

Simonton Lake: Very low, mostly inland floodingDunlap: Very low, mostly inland floodingConcord: Very low, mostly inland floodingBaugo: Very low, mostly inland floodingWashington: Very low, mostly inland floodingOsolo: Very low, mostly inland floodingMason: Very low, mostly inland floodingOntwa: Very low, mostly inland floodingGoshen: Very low, mostly inland floodingJefferson: Very low, mostly inland floodingElkhart: Very low, mostly inland floodingCleveland: Very low, mostly inland floodingHarrison: Very low, mostly inland floodingPenn: Very low, mostly inland floodingOlive: Very low, mostly inland floodingYork: Very low, mostly inland floodingPorter: Very low, mostly inland floodingElkhart: Very low, mostly inland flooding ElkhartSimonton LakeDunlapConcordBaugoWashington
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Elkhartmostly inland floodingVery low
Concordmostly inland floodingVery low
Baugomostly inland floodingVery low
Washingtonmostly inland floodingVery low
Simonton Lakemostly inland floodingVery low
Dunlapmostly 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. Elkhart covers 9 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Elkhart’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Elkhart. 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 Elkhart total about $9.9M 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.

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