Natural hazards · Whiting

Whiting, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Whiting comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1981. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Whiting?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Whiting to be higher than in 38% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding50%Tornadoes22%Cold waves20%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Whiting faces

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

Inland flooding

50% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 59% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

22% of expected damage

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

Cold waves

20% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

WildfireDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Whiting flood?

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

2paid claims since 1981

$3Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19812026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Lake County.

Disasters that hit Whiting

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WhitingDeclared for Lake County only

2026

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

202 households applied for aid $203K aid approved

2023

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

4 households applied for aid

2018

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid

2014

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$15K to the City of Whiting for repairs

2009

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

130 households applied for aid $84K aid approved $9K to the City of Whiting for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

13 households applied for aid $8K aid approved

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

33 households applied for aid $67K aid approved

2000

Snow

$9K to the City of Whiting for repairs

1999

In-Winter Storm 12/23/98

$20K to the City of Whiting for repairs

Lake County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

Around Whiting

Whiting and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Northmostly inland floodingModerate

East Chicagomostly inland floodingModerate

Whitingmostly inland floodingLow

Hammondmostly inland floodingLow

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. Whiting covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Whiting’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Whiting. 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 Whiting total about $2.1M 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.