Natural hazards · Otwell

Otwell, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Otwell comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Otwell?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Otwell to be higher than in 43% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding41%Earthquakes19%Tornadoes14%Strong wind8%Drought6%Heat waves6%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Otwell faces

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

Inland flooding

41% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

19% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

14% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 10 years in the area

Strong wind

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Drought

6% of expected damage

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 8 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireLandslidesLightning

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 Otwell flood?

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

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Pike County.

Disasters that hit Otwell

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OtwellDeclared for Pike County only

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

Pike County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

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. Otwell 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 Otwell’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to Otwell. 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.