Natural Disasters in Charlestown, IN

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

81.4

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

85.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

17.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

65.4

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Strong Wind97.3Tornado95.2Earthquake84.3

Hazard	Risk Score
Strong Wind	97.3
Tornado	95.2
Earthquake	84.3
Landslide	83.2
Cold Wave	78.8
Lightning	78.6
Ice Storm	75.5
Heat Wave	59.5
Winter Weather	55.5
Hail	44.7
Drought	40.2
Wildfire	20.7
Hurricane	14.6

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

9 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Jul 22, 2025	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Apr 3, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
May 4, 2018	Flood	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 9, 2012	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADOES
Jun 23, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND
Mar 5, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 23, 2008	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Sep 10, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Jan 21, 2005	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING
Jan 11, 2005	Snowstorm	SNOW
Sep 1, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODING
Jun 3, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Mar 6, 1997	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Apr 2, 1996	Flood	BLIZZARD OF 96
Aug 17, 1992	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLASH FLOODING
Jan 5, 1991	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Jun 4, 1990	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Apr 4, 1974	Tornado	TORNADOES

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

3,933

Total IA Distributed

$4,077,963

Repair/Replace

$1,793,964

Rental Assistance

$417,493

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4534	1	N/A	—
DR-4864	210	$1,135,734	$14,116
DR-4515	184	$1,043,545	—
DR-4058	892	$872,977	$18,557
DR-4363	222	$393,642	$5,459
DR-1795	2,236	$341,828	$498
DR-1520	72	$110,570	$3,393
DR-4782	52	$63,536	$1,764
DR-4497	9	$49,039	—
DR-4217	8	$29,272	$10,429

Showing top 10 of 15 disasters by IA amount

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

860

Total Claims Paid

$17,458,675

Avg Claim Payout

$20,301

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$7,499,418

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

234

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-1795	Severe Storm(s)	41	$2,232,598
DR-4058	Severe Storm(s)	53	$1,181,220
DR-1997	Severe Storm(s)	35	$1,152,342
DR-1828	Severe Storm(s)	21	$887,664
DR-4882	Severe Storm(s)	20	$818,342
DR-4363	Flood	26	$654,098
DR-1520	Severe Storm(s)	23	$199,600
DR-4515	Biological	5	$143,416
DR-3197	Snow	6	$124,342
DR-1542	Severe Storm(s)	4	$105,796

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$212,687

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.00

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$212,687

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Charlestown has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are strong wind, tornado, earthquake. The area has had 20 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (9 declarations). 860 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $7,499,418 in public assistance recovery funding. $4,077,963 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 1 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.