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Dubois County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
27th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$23Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Dubois County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 59% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $520 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 35 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $381,000 on 17 claims here.

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

Top risks in Dubois County

$12.2 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.
$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 240 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.9 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 floodingLow66.1
$12M
EarthquakeLow87.5
$4M
Strong windHigh87.4
$2M
TornadoLow58.7
$2M
Heat waveLow63.5
$744K
Cold waveLow38.6
$682K
HailLow61.5
$436K
DroughtLow61.1
$332K
LightningLow40.7
$179K
Ice stormModerate64.0
$175K
Winter weatherModerate73.7
$170K
HurricaneVery Low31.6
$18K
WildfireVery Low16.8
$6K
LandslideVery Low45.7
$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 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 Dubois County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood2
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
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

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 509 storm reports in Dubois County since 1954, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $2.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 24, 1967.

27tornadoes
100hail reports, largest 4 inches
272damaging thunderstorm winds
105floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 24, 1967F3–1 / 0
Feb 28, 2011EF2Millersport1 / 0
Mar 1, 2017EF2Ireland0 / 0
Mar 19, 1963F2–0 / 0
May 25, 2011EF2Huntingburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 28, 2011TornadoMillersport$500K
Mar 1, 2017TornadoIreland$350K
Mar 6, 1961Tornado–$250K
Mar 19, 1963Tornado–$250K
Apr 3, 1989Tornado–$250K
May 10, 2006TornadoHuntingburg$150K

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

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (35 policies)
12.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$381,085paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $187,398 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 Dubois County

$230,100median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.1%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; 18,836 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
Warrick CountyLow18
Daviess CountyLow16
Orange CountyVery Low17
Spencer CountyVery Low13
Perry CountyVery Low21
Pike CountyVery Low20
Crawford CountyVery Low19
Martin CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Dubois County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dubois County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Dubois County, about $12.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Dubois County had?

Dubois County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Dubois County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 27th 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 Dubois County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Dubois 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 Dubois County had?

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Dubois County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 24, 1967. The weather service has also logged 100 hail reports and 105 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.