Natural hazards · Otterbein

Otterbein, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Otterbein comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Otterbein?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Otterbein to be higher than in 27% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding50%Cold waves24%Tornadoes9%Everything else17%

By hazard

What Otterbein faces

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

Inland flooding

50% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 48% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Cold waves

24% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 57% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 53% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 17 years in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

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 Otterbein flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Otterbein.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Tippecanoe County.

Disasters that hit Otterbein

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OtterbeinDeclared for Tippecanoe County only

2007

Snow

$2K to the Town of Otterbein for repairs

2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $3K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

17 households applied for aid $19K aid approved

1999

In-Winter Storm 12/23/98

$4K to the Town of Otterbein for repairs

Tippecanoe County has had 12 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

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. Otterbein is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Otterbein’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Otterbein. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

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.