Natural hazards · Princeton

Princeton, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Princeton comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 13 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 Princeton?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Princeton to be higher than in 37% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes38%Inland flooding29%Strong wind10%Heat waves8%Tornadoes7%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Princeton faces

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

Earthquakes

38% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

29% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 16% of U.S. places

Recorded about 9 times a year in the area

Strong wind

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Heat waves

8% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 8 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

7% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 47% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold 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 Princeton flood?

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

13paid claims since 1979

$64Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Central U.S. April Flooding: 1 claim, $5K

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

Insurance rates: Gibson County.

Disasters that hit Princeton

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into PrincetonDeclared for Gibson County only

2009

Severe Winter Storm

$39K to the City of Princeton for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $34K to the City of Princeton for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

3 households applied for aid $227 aid approved

2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

4 households applied for aid $299 aid approved

2004

Snow

$13K to the City of Princeton for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

7 households applied for aid $3K aid approved $17K to the City of Princeton for repairs

Gibson County has had 19 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. Princeton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Princeton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Princeton. 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 Princeton total about $1.7M 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.