Natural hazards · Goshen

Goshen, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Goshen comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1982. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Goshen?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Goshen to be higher than in 7% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding42%Cold waves23%Tornadoes16%Strong wind7%Hail5%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Goshen faces

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

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 15% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Cold waves

23% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 46% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

16% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 43% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Hail

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce 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 Goshen flood?

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

25paid claims since 1982

$1.0Mpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19822026

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. Goshen 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.

Disasters that hit Goshen

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into GoshenDeclared for Elkhart County only

2018

Severe Storms and Flooding

103 households applied for aid $92K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

56 households applied for aid $36K aid approved

2007

Snow

$19K to the City of Goshen for repairs

2000

Snow

$30K to the City of Goshen for repairs

1999

In-Winter Storm 12/23/98

$19K to the City of Goshen for repairs

Elkhart County has had 11 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and floods.

Around Goshen

Goshen and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Concordmostly inland floodingVery low

Jeffersonmostly inland floodingVery low

Goshenmostly 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. Goshen covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Goshen’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Goshen. 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 Goshen total about $4.7M 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.