Natural hazards · Topeka

Topeka, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Topeka comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low 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 Topeka?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Topeka to be higher than in 16% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding47%Tornadoes20%Strong wind10%Cold waves8%Hail6%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Topeka faces

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

Inland flooding

47% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Tornadoes

20% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 53 years in the area

Strong wind

10% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Cold waves

8% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hail

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Topeka flood?

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

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: LaGrange County.

Disasters that hit Topeka

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into TopekaDeclared for LaGrange County only

2014

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$5K to the Town of Topeka for repairs

2007

Snow

$3K to the Town of Topeka for repairs

2000

Snow

$2K to the Town of Topeka for repairs

LaGrange County has had 10 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and tornadoes.

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

Topeka, IN natural hazards

How exposed is Topeka?

What Topeka faces

Inland flooding

Tornadoes

Strong wind

Cold waves

Hail

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Topeka flood?

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

Snow

Snow

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

Nearby