Natural hazards · Needham

Needham, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Needham comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 40 claims here since 1990. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Needham?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Needham to be higher than in 57% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding60%Tornadoes18%Strong wind6%Earthquakes5%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Needham faces

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

Inland flooding

60% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

18% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 38 years in the area

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 55% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Needham flood?

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

40paid claims since 1990

$1.1Mpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19902026

Biggest named events

Storm: 17 claims, $598K
Central U.S. April Flooding: 2 claims, $170K
Mid-spring storms: 1 claim, $2K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Johnson County.

Disasters that hit Needham

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into NeedhamDeclared for Johnson County only

2023

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

1 household applied for aid

2008

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

3 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $3K aid approved

Johnson County has had 14 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

Around Needham

Needham and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Jacksonmostly inland floodingModerate

Needhammostly inland floodingModerate

Franklinmostly inland floodingModerate

Amitymostly inland floodingModerate

Hendricksmostly inland floodingModerate

Blue Rivermostly inland floodingModerate

Clarkmostly inland floodingLow

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. Needham covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Needham’s own flood-insurance community (here, the census tracts inside it); household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Needham. 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 Needham total about $3.5M 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.