Natural hazards · South Bend

South Bend, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in South Bend comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 49 claims here since 1981. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is South Bend?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in South Bend to be higher than in 8% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding43%Cold waves28%Tornadoes13%Everything else16%

By hazard

What South Bend faces

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

Inland flooding

43% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 18% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Cold waves

28% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 56% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 South Bend flood?

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

49paid claims since 1981

$580Kpaid to owners

4homes flooded more than once

19812026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Ike: 1 claim, $8K

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

Insurance rates: St. Joseph County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

20flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit South Bend

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into South BendDeclared for St. Joseph County only

2018

Severe Storms and Flooding

283 households applied for aid $284K aid approved

2009

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

32 households applied for aid $66K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

49 households applied for aid $36K aid approved

2000

Snow

$78K to the City of South Bend for repairs

1999

In-Winter Storm 12/23/98

$107K to the City of South Bend for repairs

St. Joseph County has had 14 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and severe storms.

Around South Bend

South Bend and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Mishawakamostly inland floodingVery low

Pennmostly inland floodingVery low

South Bendmostly inland floodingVery low

Portagemostly inland floodingVery low

Ardmoremostly inland floodingVery low

Gilmer Parkmostly inland floodingVery low

Notre Damemostly cold wavesVery low

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. South Bend covers 38 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to South Bend’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of South Bend. 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 South Bend total about $20.1M 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.