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Natural hazards · Mishawaka

Mishawaka, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Mishawaka comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1982. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Mishawaka?

15
Very low
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Mishawaka to be higher than in 15% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding49%Cold waves25%Tornadoes12%Everything else14%
By hazard

What Mishawaka faces

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

Inland flooding

49% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 31% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Cold waves

25% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 56% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Mishawaka flood?

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

22paid claims since 1982
$127Kpaid to owners
3homes flooded more than once
19822026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Ike: 1 claim, $316

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. Mishawaka isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Joseph County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters that hit Mishawaka

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MishawakaDeclared for St. Joseph County only
2018

Severe Storms and Flooding

68 households applied for aid $74K aid approved
2009

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $2K aid approved
2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

22 households applied for aid $38K aid approved
2007

Snow

$39K to the City of Mishawaka for repairs
2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $7K aid approved
2000

Snow

$43K to the City of Mishawaka for repairs
1999

In-Winter Storm 12/23/98

$57K to the City of Mishawaka for repairs
St. Joseph County has had 14 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and severe storms.
Around Mishawaka

Mishawaka and the towns around it

Granger: Very low, mostly inland floodingSouth Bend: Very low, mostly inland floodingPenn: Very low, mostly inland floodingPortage: Very low, mostly inland floodingHarris: Very low, mostly inland floodingMilton: Very low, mostly inland floodingArdmore: Very low, mostly inland floodingGilmer Park: Very low, mostly inland floodingNotre Dame: Very low, mostly cold wavesBaugo: Very low, mostly inland floodingMadison: Very low, mostly inland floodingClay: Very low, mostly inland floodingCleveland: Very low, mostly inland floodingCentre: Very low, mostly inland floodingGerman: Very low, mostly inland floodingWarren: Very low, mostly inland floodingGreene: Very low, mostly inland floodingMishawaka: Very low, mostly inland flooding MishawakaGrangerSouth BendPennPortage
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Mishawakamostly inland floodingVery low
Pennmostly inland floodingVery low
Grangermostly inland floodingVery low
South Bendmostly inland floodingVery low
Portagemostly 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. Mishawaka covers 10 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Mishawaka’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Mishawaka. 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 Mishawaka total about $8.3M 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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