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DeKalb County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
49th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$13Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

DeKalb County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $311 per resident. Since 1982 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (56 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 67 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 2009.

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

Top risks in DeKalb County

$7.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.3 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 floodingLow51.8
$7M
TornadoModerate67.6
$2M
Strong windModerate79.5
$1M
Cold waveLow46.9
$876K
HailLow66.8
$508K
EarthquakeVery Low56.8
$407K
DroughtLow57.8
$254K
LightningLow38.5
$158K
Heat waveVery Low25.2
$102K
Ice stormLow41.7
$60K
Winter weatherLow31.9
$34K
HurricaneVery Low21.6
$7K
WildfireVery Low12.0
$4K
LandslideVery Low42.8
$841

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm6
Snowstorm3
Flood2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Sep 18, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 1982Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 199 storm reports in DeKalb County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 10 injuries and about $28.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 14, 1992.

13tornadoes
58hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
120damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 14, 1992F2–0 / 0
Oct 24, 2001F2Corunna0 / 0
Jun 14, 2000F2Butler Center0 / 0
Jun 14, 2000F1Butler Center0 / 0
Jul 9, 2000F1Corunna0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 14, 1992Tornado–$25M
Oct 24, 2001TornadoCorunna$1M
Nov 6, 2005Thunderstorm WindCountywide$750K
Jun 14, 2000TornadoButler Center$310K
Aug 29, 2022Thunderstorm WindAltona$300K
Jun 14, 2000TornadoButler Center$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 19, 2025. 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 DeKalb County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (56 policies)
16.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 67 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $1.1 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 DeKalb County

$194,100median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.7%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; 18,384 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
Allen CountyModerate16
Noble CountyLow14
LaGrange CountyLow10
Defiance County, OHVery Low6
Williams County, OHLow6
Steuben CountyVery Low10

Common questions about DeKalb County

What is the biggest natural hazard in DeKalb County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in DeKalb County, about $7.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.4 million.

How many federal disasters has DeKalb County had?

DeKalb County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1982, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is DeKalb County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 49th 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 DeKalb County?

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

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in DeKalb County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 14, 1992. The weather service has also logged 58 hail reports and 7 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.