Natural hazards · Salem

Salem, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Salem comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1990. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Salem?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Salem to be higher than in 73% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding57%Tornadoes23%Earthquakes7%Strong wind6%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Salem faces

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

Inland flooding

57% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

23% of expected damage

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

Earthquakes

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

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 Salem flood?

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

22paid claims since 1990

$2.3Mpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

19902026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Washington County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

8storm safe rooms built

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Salem

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SalemDeclared for Washington County only

2025

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$27K to the City of Salem for repairs

2012

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

21 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and

$21K to the City of Salem for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm

$21K to the City of Salem for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

194 households applied for aid $93K aid approved $171K to the City of Salem for repairs

2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

12 households applied for aid $11K aid approved

2004

Snow

$15K to the City of Salem for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

61 households applied for aid $143K aid approved $38K to the City of Salem for repairs

2002

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

$6K to the City of Salem for repairs

Washington 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. Salem covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Salem’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Salem. 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 Salem total about $1.8M 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.