Natural hazards · Winchester

Winchester, IN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Winchester comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2011. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Winchester?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Winchester to be higher than in 46% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding59%Tornadoes24%Strong wind6%Earthquakes5%Everything else5%

By hazard

What Winchester faces

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

Inland flooding

59% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 57% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

24% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesLightning

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 Winchester flood?

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

2paid claims since 2011

$62Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20112026

Biggest named events

Central U.S. April Flooding: 1 claim, $60K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Randolph County.

Disasters that hit Winchester

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WinchesterDeclared for Randolph County only

2026

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

16 households applied for aid $72K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

13 households applied for aid $11K aid approved

2007

Snow

$31K to the City of Winchester for repairs

2005

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

646 households applied for aid $385K aid approved $160K to the City of Winchester for repairs

2004

Snow

$7K to the City of Winchester for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

22 households applied for aid $42K aid approved

1999

In-Winter Storm 12/23/98

$4K to the City of Winchester for repairs

Randolph County has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and severe storms.

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

Winchester, IN natural hazards

How exposed is Winchester?

What Winchester faces

Inland flooding

Tornadoes

Strong wind

Earthquakes

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Winchester flood?

Biggest named events

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

Snow

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

Snow

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

In-Winter Storm 12/23/98

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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