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Clark County, Indiana

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
11th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$54Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clark County, Indiana has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $54 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $450 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (481 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $17 million on 860 claims here.

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

Top risks in Clark County

$25.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$14.6 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.
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate81.2
$25M
TornadoHigh95.2
$15M
Strong windHigh97.3
$5M
Cold waveModerate78.8
$4M
EarthquakeLow84.3
$3M
LightningModerate78.6
$819K
Heat waveLow59.5
$684K
Ice stormModerate75.5
$359K
HailLow44.7
$258K
Winter weatherLow55.5
$94K
DroughtLow40.2
$81K
LandslideLow83.2
$29K
WildfireVery Low20.7
$10K
HurricaneVery Low14.6
$4K

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 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 Clark County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood5
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2012Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Show all 18
Sep 1, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 6, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Aug 17, 1992Severe Storms & Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 481 storm reports in Clark County since 1955, with 5 deaths and 45 injuries and about $312 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974.

30tornadoes
121hail reports, largest 3 inches
224damaging thunderstorm winds
96floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F5–23 / 1
Mar 2, 2012EF4Blue Lick0 / 1
Apr 3, 1974F4–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F3–0 / 0
Oct 18, 2007EF3Vesta0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$250M
Mar 2, 2012TornadoBlue Lick$55M
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$3M
Oct 18, 2007TornadoVesta$1M
May 27, 2004TornadoBorden$1M
May 30, 2004TornadoClarksville$500K

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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Clark County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 52 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Clark County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (481 policies)
20.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$17.5 millionpaid on 860 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $4.7 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 Clark County

$222,900median 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
5.1%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; 55,049 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
Jefferson County, KYHigh22
Floyd CountyLow15
Oldham County, KYLow16
Jefferson CountyLow23
Washington CountyVery Low18
Scott CountyVery Low15
Trimble County, KYVery Low20

Cities in Clark County

Common questions about Clark County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clark County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clark County, about $25.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $14.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Clark County had?

Clark County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Clark County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 11th 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 Clark County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Clark 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 Clark County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Clark County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 121 hail reports and 96 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Clark County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Clark County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 55 mph.

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.