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Gibson County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
36th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$18Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gibson County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and drought. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $538 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 26 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $506,000 on 49 claims here.

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

Top risks in Gibson County

$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 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.
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 145 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow36.9
$5M
EarthquakeLow88.5
$5M
DroughtHigh95.8
$3M
Strong windModerate76.7
$1M
Heat waveLow68.8
$1M
TornadoLow38.7
$934K
HailLow58.6
$421K
Cold waveLow24.6
$363K
LightningLow35.5
$157K
Winter weatherLow59.8
$104K
Ice stormLow48.2
$91K
HurricaneVery Low28.0
$14K
LandslideLow74.5
$10K
WildfireVery Low6.2
$2K

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 Gibson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood5
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor 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 20
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 30, 1968FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 590 storm reports in Gibson County since 1958, with 2 deaths and 21 injuries and about $78.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990.

30tornadoes
98hail reports, largest 4 inches
174damaging thunderstorm winds
272floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 2, 1990F4–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F4–1 / 0
Apr 3, 1989F3–8 / 0
Feb 28, 2017EF3Crawleyville1 / 0
Mar 15, 2025EF2Haubstadt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1989Tornado–$25M
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$25M
Jul 31, 2012Thunderstorm WindOakland City$6M
Feb 28, 2017TornadoCrawleyville$3M
Mar 2, 2012HailHaubstadt$3M
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 29, 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 Gibson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (26 policies)
5.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$505,512paid on 49 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $204,046 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 Gibson County

$180,000median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.5%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; 14,890 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
Vanderburgh CountyModerate18
Warrick CountyLow18
Knox CountyLow16
Posey CountyLow17
White County, ILLow8
Pike CountyVery Low20
Wabash County, ILVery Low8

Common questions about Gibson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gibson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gibson County, about $5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Gibson County had?

Gibson County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Gibson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 36th 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 Gibson County?

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

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Gibson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990. The weather service has also logged 98 hail reports and 272 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.