Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 41% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding42%Earthquakes25%Tornadoes16%Heat waves5%Strong wind5%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 39% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

25% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

16% of expected damage

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

Heat waves

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Strong wind

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

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 Washington flood?

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

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Daviess County.

Disasters that hit Washington

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for Daviess County only

2009

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid

2008

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

24 households applied for aid $291K aid approved

2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

24 households applied for aid $95K aid approved

2004

Snow

$9K to the City of Washington for repairs

Daviess County has had 16 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. Washington covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Washington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Washington. 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 Washington total about $2.5M 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.