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Adams County, Indiana

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
33rd of 92highest risk in Indiana
$12Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Adams County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 33rd of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $331 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 44 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 119 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 2003.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Adams County

$6.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow61.3
$7M
TornadoModerate75.9
$2M
Strong windHigh85.7
$1M
Cold waveLow46.4
$575K
Heat waveLow65.4
$519K
EarthquakeLow62.9
$373K
HailLow57.4
$241K
LightningLow40.3
$112K
Ice stormLow32.2
$25K
Winter weatherLow30.7
$21K
HurricaneVery Low39.8
$20K
WildfireVery Low10.4
$2K
LandslideVery Low32.2
$254

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Adams County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm4
Tornado2
Flood2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Sep 18, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 224 storm reports in Adams County since 1953, with 4 deaths and 45 injuries and about $31 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.

22tornadoes
78hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
104damaging thunderstorm winds
13floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–37 / 1
Nov 10, 2002F3Berne0 / 0
Aug 26, 1986F2–2 / 0
Jul 2, 1992F2–0 / 0
May 14, 1970F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$25M
Aug 26, 1986Tornado–$3M
May 14, 1970Tornado–$250K
Jun 2, 1980Tornado–$250K
Mar 16, 1982Tornado–$250K
Jul 2, 1992Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 2025. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Adams County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (44 policies)
14.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 119 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $1.1 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Adams County

$178,400median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.4%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 13,308 housing units.

Compare in Indiana

All 92 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Marion CountyHighInland flooding
Lake CountyHighInland flooding
Allen CountyModerateInland flooding
Hamilton CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Joseph CountyModerateInland flooding
Elkhart CountyModerateInland flooding
Tippecanoe CountyModerateInland flooding
Vanderburgh CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Allen CountyModerate16
Mercer County, OHVery Low12
Van Wert County, OHVery Low11
Wells CountyVery Low13
Jay CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Adams County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Adams County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Adams County, about $6.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Adams County had?

Adams County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Adams County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 33rd highest of 92 in Indiana. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Adams County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Adams County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Adams County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Adams County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 78 hail reports and 13 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.