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Allen County, Indiana

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
4th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$97Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Detsom, CC BY 4.0

Allen County, Indiana has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 91% of US counties. It ranks 4th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $97 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $253 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (507 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $16 million on 1,673 claims here.

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

Top risks in Allen County

$59.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$21 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh93.5
$60M
TornadoHigh97.5
$21M
Strong windHigh97.6
$5M
Cold waveModerate82.0
$4M
EarthquakeLow84.9
$3M
HailModerate89.0
$2M
Heat waveLow72.5
$1M
LightningHigh83.9
$911K
Winter weatherHigh89.6
$407K
Ice stormModerate76.5
$326K
DroughtLow57.0
$239K
HurricaneVery Low43.8
$43K
WildfireVery Low39.1
$25K
LandslideVery Low54.0
$2K

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 relatively low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Snowstorm3
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 15, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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
Show all 16
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 1982Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 774 storm reports in Allen County since 1950, with 5 deaths and 45 injuries and about $19.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 16, 1968.

31tornadoes
249hail reports, largest 3 inches
445damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 16, 1968F3–0 / 0
Aug 24, 2016EF3Milan Center0 / 0
May 26, 2001F2Ft Wayne3 / 0
Oct 8, 1992F2–9 / 0
Mar 18, 1953F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 26, 2001TornadoFt Wayne$7M
Jun 27, 2002Flash FloodFt Wayne$5M
May 9, 2000Thunderstorm WindHuntertown$3M
May 9, 2000Thunderstorm WindFt Wayne$1M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindFt Wayne$1M
Aug 29, 2017Flash FloodEllison$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 2026. 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 Allen County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (507 policies)
16%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$15.8 millionpaid on 1,673 flood claims since 1978
1982costliest year, with $3.4 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 Allen County

$214,900median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.8%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; 166,285 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
Noble CountyLow14
DeKalb CountyVery Low13
Defiance County, OHVery Low6
Huntington CountyVery Low13
Adams CountyLow15
Whitley CountyVery Low13
Van Wert County, OHVery Low11
Wells CountyVery Low13

Cities in Allen County

Common questions about Allen County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Allen County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Allen County, about $59.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $21 million.

How many federal disasters has Allen County had?

Allen County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Allen County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 4th 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 Allen County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Allen 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 Allen County had?

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Allen County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 16, 1968. The weather service has also logged 249 hail reports and 37 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.