Natural hazards · North Vernon

North Vernon, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in North Vernon comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1979. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is North Vernon?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in North Vernon to be higher than in 54% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding58%Tornadoes23%Strong wind6%Everything else13%

By hazard

What North Vernon faces

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

Inland flooding

58% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

23% of expected damage

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

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat 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 North Vernon flood?

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

3paid claims since 1979

$37Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19792026

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. North Vernon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Jennings County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit North Vernon

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into North VernonDeclared for Jennings County only

2009

Severe Winter Storm

$10K to the City of North Vernon for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

245 households applied for aid $82K aid approved $76K to the City of North Vernon for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

18 households applied for aid $37K aid approved $21K to the City of North Vernon for repairs

2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

10 households applied for aid $6K aid approved

2004

Snow

$30K to the City of North Vernon for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

7 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

Jennings County has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around North Vernon

North Vernon and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Vernonmostly inland floodingHigh

North Vernonmostly inland floodingModerate

Centermostly inland floodingModerate

Country Squire Lakesmostly inland floodingModerate

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. North Vernon covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to North Vernon’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of North Vernon. 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 North Vernon total about $949K 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.