Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Hamilton County, IN

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
18057
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Approved, expires 2031-09-15. Plan: Hamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), approved 2026-09-16.

Since the plan was approved on 2026-09-16: no new hazard declaration; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($72,771,944 a year), Tornado ($29,658,291) and Cold Wave ($9,029,225).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Approved, expires 2031-09-15
Plan:
Hamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257)
Approved:
2026-09-16
Days to expiry:
1,811

What changed since your last plan (approved 2026-09-16)

New federal declarations:
none
Storm Events records since approval:
not yet covered: Storm Events data run through 2026-06-30, before the approval date, so there is no period to count yet
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 2, SRL 7 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 47
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county: 15 rows, in the section "Plan clock: Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county" on the following pages.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Plan clock

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Hamilton CountyCountyApproved, expires 2031-09-15Hamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257)2026-09-162031-09-151,811
Arcadia townTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Atlanta townTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Carmel cityCityPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Cicero townTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Fishers cityTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Noblesville cityCityPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Sheridan townTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Westfield cityTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Carmel Clay SchoolsSchool/School DistrictPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Hamilton Heights School CorporationSchool/School DistrictPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Hamilton Southeastern SchoolsSchool/School DistrictPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Noblesville SchoolsSchool/School DistrictPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Westfield-Washington SchoolsSchool/School DistrictPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictConservation DistrictPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleHamilton County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 112257), pending adoption here2026-09-16 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2031-09-15 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively ModerateRelatively High$71,918,373$71,115$782,457$72,771,94479
2TornadoRelatively HighRelatively High$18,305,780$1,078$11,351,432$29,658,29111
3Cold WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively High$8,100$87,557$8,933,568$9,029,2256
4EarthquakeRelatively LowRelatively Moderate$4,143,738n/a$545,127$4,688,865Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
5HailRelatively ModerateRelatively High$3,960,292$19,358$3,769$3,983,418164
6Heat WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$29,839$2$3,619,433$3,649,2743
7Strong WindRelatively ModerateRelatively High$286,350$612$1,989,077$2,276,039211Includes 15 High Wind and 4 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
8LightningRelatively HighRelatively High$524,005n/a$955,488$1,479,49353
9Winter WeatherRelatively HighRelatively High$44,491$455$694,787$739,73342
10Ice StormRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$50,106n/a$397,415$447,5203
11DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Lown/a$266,754n/a$266,75411
12HurricaneVery LowVery Low$12,741$3,623$20$16,3850No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13WildfireVery LowVery Low$11,628$2$1,268$12,8980No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14LandslideVery LowVery Low$702n/a$1,266$1,9680No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire and landslide records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 1106 (Relatively Low, 76.6); tract 1108.07 (Relatively Low, 76.0); tract 1105.13 (Relatively Low, 75.6)
Hurricanetract 1101.02 (Very Low, 36.0); tract 1103.03 (Very Low, 34.8); tract 1102.01 (Very Low, 30.1)
Landslidetract 1101.02 (Relatively Low, 86.8); tract 1108.13 (Relatively Low, 85.8); tract 1102.02 (Relatively Low, 82.6)
Tornadotract 1108.14 (Very High, 99.0); tract 1108.13 (Very High, 98.9); tract 1105.13 (Very High, 98.8)
Wildfiretract 1110.09 (Very Low, 64.1); tract 1105.15 (Very Low, 58.3); tract 1102.01 (Very Low, 57.4)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 1106 is Census Tract 1106). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill6 records, 1996 to 2026 (6 zone-level)2 days to 4 days (median 3 days); 6 with a recorded value4 consecutive days, 1996-02-02 to 1996-02-05, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage0
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)11 records, 2010 to 2026 (11 zone-level)29 days to 141 days (median 92 days); 3 with a recorded value141 days (about 4.6 months), 2025-10-21 to 2026-03-10, a run of 6 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)187 records, 1965 to 20250.75 in to 2.75 in (median 1 in); 187 with a recorded value2.75 in hail, 2009-06-02; same size also recorded on 2000-05-18Hail, 2000-05-18, $5,000,000 property; crops not reported (2000 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Carmel city (48 records), Noblesville city (26 records), Fishers city (25 records), Cicero town (10 records), Sheridan town (10 records), Arcadia town (5 records), Atlanta town (2 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)3 records, 1997 to 2026 (3 zone-level)1 day to 6 days (median 2 days); 3 with a recorded value6 consecutive days, 2023-08-20 to 2023-08-25, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)3 records, 2005 to 2018 (3 zone-level)Ice Storm, 2018-11-14, $500 property; $0 crops (2018 dollars); NWS zone INZ039Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)79 records, 1997 to 2025 (18 zone-level)Flood, 2003-07-06, $31,000,000 property; $2,000,000 crops (2003 dollars); NWS zone INZ039Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Noblesville city (15 records), Fishers city (12 records), Arcadia town (4 records), Carmel city (3 records), Cicero town (2 records), Sheridan town (1 record). Zone-level records (18) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)53 records, 1996 to 2019Lightning, 1999-04-08, damage not reported, 1 direct deathLightning, 2010-06-22, $3,500,000 property; crops not reported (2010 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Fishers city (20 records), Carmel city (16 records), Noblesville city (9 records), Sheridan town (1 record), Westfield city (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)19 records, 1996 to 2026 (19 zone-level)42 kt (48 mph) to 63 kt (72 mph) (median 51 kt (59 mph)); 19 with a recorded value63 kt (72 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2009-02-11; NWS zone INZ039High Wind, 2019-11-27, $100,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2019 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)269 records, 1961 to 202643 kt (49 mph) to 80 kt (92 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 196 with a recorded value80 kt (92 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1966-07-13Thunderstorm Wind, 2023-06-29, $600,000 property; $0 crops (2023 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Carmel city (36 records), Fishers city (36 records), Noblesville city (32 records), Sheridan town (18 records), Cicero town (14 records), Arcadia town (9 records), Atlanta town (2 records), Westfield city (1 record).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)30 records, 1962 to 2025F/EF0 to F/EF4 (median F/EF1); 30 with a recorded valueF4 tornado, 1965-04-11, 12.1 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 1,333 yd wide, $25,000,000 property; crops not recorded (1965 dollars), 6 direct deaths, 30 direct injuriesEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Arcadia town (2 records), Atlanta town (2 records), Fishers city (2 records), Noblesville city (2 records), Sheridan town (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)42 records, 1996 to 2026 (42 zone-level)Heavy Snow, 2019-12-15, $75,000 property; $0 crops (2019 dollars); NWS zone INZ039Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow and lightning.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 21 declarations covering 17 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Storm Events records since the plan: not yet covered: Storm Events data run through 2026-06-30, before the approval date, so there is no period to count yet.

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2026-08-252026-08-11DR-4933-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Wind, Tornadonot yet in FEMA's PA summaries (they cover declarations through 2026-06-30)in the 12 months before plan approval; within last 5 years
2026-08-152026-08-11EM-3651-INEmergencySevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Wind, Tornadonot yet in FEMA's PA summaries (they cover declarations through 2026-06-30)in the 12 months before plan approval; within last 5 yearssame incident as DR-4933
2026-01-242026-01-23EM-3641-INEmergencySevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recordedin the 12 months before plan approval; within last 5 years
2020-04-032020-01-20DR-4515-INMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$13,255,312.61
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3456-INEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4515
2014-04-222014-01-05DR-4173-INMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormWinter Weather$864,678.18
2008-06-082008-05-30DR-1766-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesInland Flooding; Tornado$1,440FEMA's declaration record does not list Public Assistance, but FEMA's PA project summaries show obligations for this county
2007-03-122007-02-12EM-3274-INEmergencySnowWinter Weather$672,616.43
2005-09-102005-08-29EM-3238-INEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2005-01-212005-01-01DR-1573-INMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms and FloodingInland Flooding; Winter WeatherPA not declared for this county
2005-01-112004-12-21EM-3197-INEmergencySnowWinter Weather$180,997.44
2004-06-032004-05-25DR-1520-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; TornadoPA not declared for this county
2003-09-052003-08-26DR-1487-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; TornadoPA not declared for this county
2003-07-112003-07-04DR-1476-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; TornadoPA not declared for this county
2002-09-252002-09-20DR-1433-INMajor disasterSevere Storms and TornadoesTornadoPA not declared for this county
2002-06-132002-04-28DR-1418-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingInland Flooding; TornadoPA not declared for this county
1999-01-151999-01-01EM-3135-INEmergencyIn-Winter Storm 12/23/98Winter Weather$143,317.15
1996-04-021996-01-06DR-1109-INMajor disasterBlizzard of 96Inland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1991-03-291991-03-12DR-899-INMajor disasterSevere Ice StormIce Stormno Public Assistance recorded
1991-01-051990-12-28DR-891-INMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1965-04-141965-04-14DR-189-INMajor disasterTornadoes & Severe StormsTornadono Public Assistance recorded

School districts and special districts in this county: $715,345.94 (included in the county total above). Public Assistance matched by applicant name to the school districts and special districts FEMA lists as plan participants in this county. They have no row of their own in the jurisdiction table, so their total is listed here. These dollars are already included in the county PA column of the declarations table (the FEMA record places each applicant in this county), so this line is not added to it.

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1964-03-171964-03-17DR-162-INMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Flooding
1961-05-201961-05-20DR-113-INMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1954-10-261954-10-26DR-30-INMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Cold Wave625001996 to 2026-06-30
Drought1166001996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake00000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail187010001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave312001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm300101996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding7903901996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning5300001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind2881339101955 to 2026-06-30Includes 15 High Wind and 4 Strong Wind records.
Tornado3002801950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather4237601996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2023-08-20Excessive Heat$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2023 dollars)0, 0NWS zone INZ039 (HAMILTON), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2021-03-27Thunderstorm Wind60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust$30,000 property; $0 crops (2021 dollars)1, 0INDIANAPOLIS METRO Adeaths or injuries recorded
2019-12-15Heavy Snow$75,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2019 dollars)0, 0NWS zone INZ039 (HAMILTON), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2018-11-14Ice Storm$500 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2018 dollars)0, 0NWS zone INZ039 (HAMILTON), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Ice Storm
2013-04-19Flood$25,000 property; $1,000 crops (2013 dollars)2, 0ARCADIAdeaths or injuries recorded
2009-06-02Hail2.75 in$50,000 property; crops not reported (2009 dollars)0, 0INDIANAPOLIS METRO AB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2009-02-11High Wind63 kt (72 mph) measured gustdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone INZ039 (HAMILTON), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2003-07-06Flood$31,000,000 property; $2,000,000 crops (zone total, 2003 dollars)0, 0NWS zone INZ039 (HAMILTON), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
1999-04-08Lightningdamage not reported1, 0CARMELB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
1996-02-02Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone INZ039 (HAMILTON), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
1966-07-13Thunderstorm Wind80 kt (92 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
1965-04-11TornadoF4, 12.1 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 1,333 yd wide$25,000,000 property; crops not recorded (1965 dollars)6, 30location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (702 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Cold Wave3.42event-days per yearabout 3.42 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)652005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought1.39event-days per yearabout 1.39 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)422000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.00185annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.185%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail4.38events per yearabout 4.38 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)166.5 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave4.32event-days per yearabout 4.32 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)632005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.0115events per yearabout 1 in 87 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)21851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm0.99event-days per yearabout 0.99 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)671946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding1.82event-days per yearabout 1.82 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 25 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (83.3%)511996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.0872events per year (modeled)about 1 in 11 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning45.8days per year with a strikeabout 45.8 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind4.76events per yearabout 4.76 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)1811986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.309events per yearabout 1 in 3 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.0000187annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.00187%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather10.3event-days per yearabout 10.3 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 22 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (73.3%)1952005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202592303.07
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20258300.267
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025154305.13
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20259300.3
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 202517300.567
TornadoEF0-11996 to 202510300.333
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Cold Wave57 of 5747.469.087.2Relatively High 5, Relatively Moderate 52
Drought46 of 5766.876.195.1Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 13, Very Low 30, No Rating 11
Earthquake57 of 5740.161.076.6Relatively Low 56, Very Low 1
Hail57 of 5768.881.392.7Relatively High 4, Relatively Moderate 52, Relatively Low 1
Heat Wave57 of 5726.953.279.9Relatively Moderate 22, Relatively Low 35
Hurricane57 of 5717.922.236.0Very Low 57
Ice Storm57 of 5730.851.675.6Relatively Moderate 4, Relatively Low 51, Very Low 2
Inland Flooding57 of 5713.265.696.1Very High 1, Relatively High 13, Relatively Moderate 33, Relatively Low 9, Very Low 1
Landslide57 of 5731.661.486.8Relatively Low 3, Very Low 54
Lightning57 of 5737.962.488.6Relatively High 4, Relatively Moderate 49, Relatively Low 4
Strong Wind57 of 5739.863.683.8Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 45, Relatively Low 10
Tornado57 of 5767.587.899.0Very High 10, Relatively High 44, Relatively Moderate 3
Wildfire57 of 5724.941.564.1Very Low 57
Winter Weather57 of 5759.178.493.1Relatively High 28, Relatively Moderate 29

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its planNotes
Hamilton CountyCountyApproved, expires 2031-09-15FMA RL 1, SRL 3; any 18no Public Assistance recorded0 total; not yet covered
Arcadia townTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1no Public Assistance recorded20 total; no approved plan
Atlanta townTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$4,628.966 total; no approved plan
Carmel cityCityPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 1; any 9$1,305,532.58103 total; no approved planIncludes $1,004,208 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4515-IN).
Cicero townTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$12,415.6526 total; no approved plan
Fishers cityTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 1, SRL 1; any 4$9,824,533.3295 total; no approved planIncludes $9,457,202.15 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4515-IN).
Noblesville cityCityPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 2; any 12$282,779.4284 total; no approved planIncludes $64,094.64 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4515-IN).
Sheridan townTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1$67,236.8131 total; no approved planIncludes $29,184.24 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4515-IN).
Westfield cityTownPlan 112257 approved 2026-09-16, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 2$54,895.962 total; no approved plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2026-09-16county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Cold Wave$89,398,706,378$134,699,450347,343$8,100$87,557$8,933,568under 0.0001%
Droughtn/a$118,769,014n/an/a$266,754n/a0.225% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$144,442,759,439n/a347,467$4,143,738n/a$545,1270.00287%
Hail$89,398,706,378$134,699,450347,343$3,960,292$19,358$3,7690.00443%
Heat Wave$89,398,706,378$134,699,450347,343$29,839$2$3,619,433under 0.0001%
Hurricane$89,323,934,065$129,603,284346,998$12,741$3,623$20under 0.0001%
Ice Storm$89,386,729,334n/a347,289$50,106n/a$397,415under 0.0001%
Inland Flooding$89,211,274,014$8,580,4195,762$71,918,373$71,115$782,457n/a (see note)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$510,743,002n/a1,782$702n/a$1,2660.000138%
Lightning$89,398,706,378n/a347,343$524,005n/a$955,4880.000586%
Strong Wind$89,398,706,378$134,699,450347,343$286,350$612$1,989,0770.00032%
Tornado$89,398,706,378$134,699,450347,343$18,305,780$1,078$11,351,4320.0205%
Wildfire$9,458,483,047$14,182,15743,031$11,628$2$1,2680.000123%
Winter Weather$89,398,706,378$134,699,450347,343$44,491$455$694,787under 0.0001%

Totals since 2026-09-16: Storm Events not yet covered: Storm Events data run through 2026-06-30, before the approval date, so there is no period to count yet; Public Assistance: no counted declaration since the plan.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population347,343
Building value (total, not at risk)$89,398,706,378
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$134,699,450
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Moderate
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$99,746,701
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$29,275,107
Social vulnerability ratingVery Low
Community resilience ratingVery High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)2Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)7
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition43Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition4

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total2743447413
of which: Hamilton County (unincorporated area)131511839
of which: Carmel city0191902
of which: Noblesville city021111210
of which: Westfield city0020202
of which: Fishers town1141400
of which: Arcadia town0010100
of which: Sheridan town0010100
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0060600

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Hamilton County180080131511839
Arcadia town1804960010100
Atlanta town1803710000000
Carmel city1800810191902
Cicero town1803200000000
Fishers city1804231141400
Noblesville city180082021111210
Sheridan town1805160010100
Westfield city1800830020202

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential2742446413
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0000000
non-residential0010100
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 1 property is FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 42 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Hamilton County, IN: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 18057). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/in/18057/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: contact@hazardplain.org