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Fayette County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
60th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$10Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fayette County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $9.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $419 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 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 (51 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $498,000 on 40 claims here.

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

Top risks in Fayette County

$5.8 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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
$662,970 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow48.7
$6M
TornadoModerate68.2
$2M
Strong windModerate59.7
$663K
Cold waveLow35.5
$491K
EarthquakeVery Low49.2
$242K
HailLow39.1
$156K
LightningLow31.3
$104K
Heat waveVery Low26.6
$100K
Ice stormLow40.4
$49K
DroughtLow33.5
$33K
Winter weatherVery Low22.8
$19K
LandslideLow65.2
$4K
HurricaneVery Low13.9
$3K
WildfireVery Low4.6
$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 moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood5
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

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
Sep 23, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 29, 1991Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 30, 1968FloodingMajor 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 215 storm reports in Fayette County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $3.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 25, 1961.

10tornadoes
43hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
118damaging thunderstorm winds
42floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 25, 1961F4–0 / 0
Sep 19, 1960F3–0 / 0
Mar 11, 1955F2–3 / 0
Mar 19, 1954F2–0 / 0
Mar 19, 1963F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 25, 1961Tornado–$3M
Mar 11, 1955Tornado–$250K
Sep 19, 1960Tornado–$250K
Feb 7, 2019Flash FloodConnersville$100K
Jun 15, 2019TornadoBentonville$50K
Jun 20, 1995HailConnersville$45K

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 Fayette County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (51 policies)
16.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$497,768paid on 40 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $365,991 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 Fayette County

$130,700median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4%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; 10,905 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
Wayne CountyLow14
Henry CountyLow18
Franklin CountyVery Low22
Rush CountyVery Low15
Union CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Fayette County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fayette County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fayette County, about $5.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Fayette County had?

Fayette County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Fayette County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th 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 Fayette County?

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

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Fayette County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 25, 1961. The weather service has also logged 43 hail reports and 42 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.