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Cass County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
29th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$16Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cass County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $410 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 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 (87 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $841,000 on 63 claims here.

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

Top risks in Cass County

$8.4 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow64.1
$8M
Cold waveModerate73.9
$2M
TornadoLow60.4
$1M
Strong windHigh85.8
$1M
HailModerate75.8
$583K
Heat waveLow63.3
$546K
EarthquakeLow62.4
$422K
DroughtModerate69.1
$404K
LightningLow43.3
$150K
Winter weatherModerate61.8
$79K
Ice stormLow27.8
$23K
HurricaneVery Low33.8
$15K
WildfireVery Low11.1
$3K
LandslideVery Low49.7
$1K

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 high 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 Cass County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm4
Severe Storm4
Tornado2
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Show all 15
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Mar 29, 1991Severe Ice StormMajor 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 363 storm reports in Cass County since 1956, with 1 death and 21 injuries and about $5.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

30tornadoes
68hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
244damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–4 / 0
Nov 17, 2013EF3Young America0 / 0
Jun 6, 2010EF2Lincoln2 / 0
Jul 26, 2005F2Onward0 / 0
Mar 6, 1956F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 5, 2003Flash FloodGalveston$1M
Jul 11, 2017Flash FloodYoung America$1M
Sep 2, 1993Thunderstorm WindLogansport$500K
Jul 22, 1998Flash FloodLogansport$500K
Oct 17, 1996Thunderstorm WindLogansport$200K
Jan 8, 2008FloodDunkirk$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Cass County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (87 policies)
18%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$840,669paid on 63 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $374,048 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 Cass County

$133,800median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1956median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
78%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.8%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; 16,388 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
Howard CountyLow13
Miami CountyLow13
White CountyVery Low16
Fulton CountyVery Low16
Carroll CountyVery Low16
Pulaski CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Cass County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cass County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cass County, about $8.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Cass County had?

Cass County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Cass County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 29th 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 Cass County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Cass 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 Cass County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Cass County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 68 hail reports and 18 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.