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Brown County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
80th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$7Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Brown County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 80th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $438 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (71 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.0 million on 160 claims here, including $2.0 million for floods in 2008.

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

Top risks in Brown County

$4.2 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.
$1.2 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.
$425,646 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 floodingLow38.0
$4M
TornadoLow51.1
$1M
Strong windLow43.4
$426K
Ice stormModerate71.9
$229K
Cold waveVery Low17.3
$169K
EarthquakeVery Low42.5
$165K
Heat waveVery Low33.0
$151K
HailVery Low22.9
$79K
LightningVery Low20.4
$65K
Winter weatherLow38.9
$41K
DroughtVery Low20.6
$4K
WildfireVery Low8.3
$2K
LandslideVery Low57.6
$2K
HurricaneVery Low7.1
$295

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 moderate 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 Brown County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood4
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 15, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 30, 1968FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 191 storm reports in Brown County since 1964, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 3, 2008 near Peoga.

8tornadoes
39hail reports, largest 2 inches
114damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 3, 2008EF2Peoga1 / 0
Sep 19, 1988F1–1 / 0
Jun 17, 2026EF1Pikes Peak0 / 0
May 8, 1996F1Nashville0 / 0
May 21, 2022EF0Taggart0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 7, 2008Flash FloodFruitdate$1M
Apr 2, 2025Flash FloodTrevlac$500K
Sep 19, 1988Tornado–$250K
Jun 3, 2008TornadoPeoga$200K
Jun 17, 2026TornadoPikes Peak$150K
Jun 19, 2021Flash FloodBethany$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 21, 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 Brown County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (71 policies)
12.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5 millionpaid on 160 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $2 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 Brown County

$269,100median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.9%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; 8,577 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
Johnson CountyLow14
Monroe CountyLow14
Bartholomew CountyLow11
Morgan CountyLow18
Jackson CountyLow15

Common questions about Brown County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Brown County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Brown County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Brown County had?

Brown County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Brown County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 80th 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 Brown County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Brown 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 Brown County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Brown County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 3, 2008 near Peoga. The weather service has also logged 39 hail reports and 27 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.