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Crawford County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
69th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$6Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Crawford County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 69th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $5.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $562 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 19 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.2 million on 136 claims here, including $677,000 for floods in 1990.

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

Top risks in Crawford County

$3.4 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.
$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.
$390,017 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 floodingLow40.9
$3M
TornadoLow60.5
$1M
Strong windLow51.2
$390K
EarthquakeVery Low53.4
$224K
Cold waveLow25.0
$222K
Heat waveLow43.8
$187K
HailVery Low30.4
$82K
LightningVery Low23.5
$55K
Ice stormLow42.9
$42K
Winter weatherLow48.2
$41K
DroughtVery Low27.2
$12K
HurricaneVery Low12.8
$2K
WildfireVery Low8.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low53.9
$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 very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood4
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
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
Sep 1, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 6, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor 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 348 storm reports in Crawford County since 1956, with 1 death and 23 injuries and about $10.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974.

8tornadoes
90hail reports, largest 2 inches
187damaging thunderstorm winds
60floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F5–1 / 0
May 30, 2004F3Taswell11 / 1
Jun 2, 1990F2–9 / 0
May 19, 2017EF1Sulphur Spgs0 / 0
May 17, 1999F1Eckerty0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 30, 2004TornadoTaswell$5M
Apr 29, 2017FloodEnglish$4M
Jul 12, 2015LightningSulphur$300K
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$250K
May 19, 2017TornadoSulphur Spgs$250K
Jun 28, 1994Thunderstorm WindPatoka Lake$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 26, 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 Crawford County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 61 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 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 Crawford County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (19 policies)
5.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.2 millionpaid on 136 flood claims since 1978
1990costliest year, with $676,874 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 Crawford County

$117,700median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
28.7%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; 5,914 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
Dubois CountyLow14
Harrison CountyLow20
Meade County, KYVery Low23
Washington CountyVery Low18
Orange CountyVery Low17
Perry CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Crawford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Crawford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Crawford County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Crawford County had?

Crawford County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Crawford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 69th 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 Crawford County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Crawford 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 Crawford County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Crawford County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 90 hail reports and 60 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Crawford County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Crawford 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.