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Hamilton County, Indiana

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
5th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$129Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Serge Melki, CC BY 2.0

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

$72.8 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.
$29.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate91.1
$73M
TornadoHigh96.8
$30M
Cold waveModerate86.1
$9M
EarthquakeLow84.9
$5M
HailModerate93.5
$4M
Heat waveModerate86.0
$4M
Strong windModerate80.8
$2M
LightningHigh83.9
$1M
Winter weatherHigh91.2
$740K
Ice stormModerate73.4
$448K
DroughtLow51.5
$267K
HurricaneVery Low25.6
$16K
WildfireVery Low20.3
$13K
LandslideVery Low47.6
$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

Severe Storm8
Flood4
Snowstorm3
Tornado1
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

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
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 5, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 29, 1991Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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.

30tornadoes
187hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
271damaging thunderstorm winds
61floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–30 / 6
Nov 26, 1965F3–5 / 0
Jun 7, 1974F2–0 / 0
Nov 22, 1992F2–0 / 0
Apr 11, 2007EF2Arcadia0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$25M
May 18, 2000HailSheridan$5M
Sep 1, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$5M
Jun 22, 2010LightningHome Place$4M
Jun 29, 2023Thunderstorm WindFishers$600K
Apr 2, 2025TornadoHome 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (523 policies)
16.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.9 millionpaid on 497 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $2 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 Hamilton County

$405,500median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
2001median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
18%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.5%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; 144,746 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
Marion CountyHigh18
Madison CountyLow21
Hancock CountyLow17
Boone CountyLow16
Clinton CountyVery Low14
Tipton CountyVery Low15

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.