Hamilton County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hamilton County, Indiana has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 89% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $129 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $371 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 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 (523 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.9 million on 497 claims here, including $2.0 million for floods in 2026.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Hamilton County
- 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.
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 91.1 | $73M | ||
| Tornado | 96.8 | $30M | ||
| Cold wave | 86.1 | $9M | ||
| Earthquake | 84.9 | $5M | ||
| Hail | 93.5 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 86.0 | $4M | ||
| Strong wind | 80.8 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 83.9 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 91.2 | $740K | ||
| Ice storm | 73.4 | $448K | ||
| Drought | 51.5 | $267K | ||
| Hurricane | 25.6 | $16K | ||
| Wildfire | 20.3 | $13K | ||
| Landslide | 47.6 | $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 very 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 Hamilton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1961
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 604 storm reports in Hamilton County since 1961, with 12 deaths and 58 injuries and about $50 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1965 | F4 | – | 30 / 6 |
| Nov 26, 1965 | F3 | – | 5 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 11, 2007 | EF2 | Arcadia | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1965 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 18, 2000 | Hail | Sheridan | $5M |
| Sep 1, 2003 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $5M |
| Jun 22, 2010 | Lightning | Home Place | $4M |
| Jun 29, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fishers | $600K |
| Apr 2, 2025 | Tornado | Home Place | $600K |
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 Hamilton County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Hamilton County
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; 144,746 housing units.
Compare in Indiana
All 92 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County | Inland flooding | |
| Lake County | Inland flooding | |
| Allen County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Joseph County | Inland flooding | |
| Elkhart County | Inland flooding | |
| Tippecanoe County | Inland flooding | |
| Vanderburgh County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 18 | |
| Madison County | 21 | |
| Hancock County | 17 | |
| Boone County | 16 | |
| Clinton County | 14 | |
| Tipton County | 15 |
Cities in Hamilton County
Common questions about Hamilton County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hamilton County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hamilton County, about $72.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $29.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Hamilton County had?
Hamilton County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Hamilton County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 5th 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 Hamilton County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County had?
NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Hamilton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 187 hail reports and 61 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.