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Harrison County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
34th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$18Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Harrison County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 51% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $453 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 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 (61 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.6 million on 207 claims here, including $4.7 million for floods in 2025.

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

Top risks in Harrison County

$8.8 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
$4.7 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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 floodingLow56.7
$9M
TornadoModerate82.1
$5M
Cold waveLow57.6
$1M
Strong windModerate73.4
$1M
EarthquakeLow69.1
$807K
Heat waveLow51.0
$420K
LightningLow50.2
$252K
Ice stormModerate60.4
$150K
DroughtLow44.7
$107K
Winter weatherModerate62.3
$106K
HailVery Low22.5
$88K
WildfireVery Low18.1
$7K
HurricaneVery Low13.9
$4K
LandslideVery Low40.0
$707

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood6
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Show all 20
Sep 1, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 6, 1997Severe Storms 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
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 30, 1968FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1971

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 411 storm reports in Harrison County since 1971, with 4 deaths and 42 injuries and about $2.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974.

26tornadoes
101hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
216damaging thunderstorm winds
63floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F5–34 / 2
Apr 3, 1974F5–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F2–0 / 0
Apr 5, 1985F2–0 / 0
May 28, 1996F2Leavenworth0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 20, 2018TornadoHillgrove$600K
Mar 19, 2008Flash FloodLaconia$500K
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$250K
Aug 13, 2020Flash FloodCorydon$150K
Oct 24, 2001Thunderstorm WindElizabeth$100K
May 30, 2004Thunderstorm WindCountywide$75K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Harrison County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 48 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph48 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph48 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Harrison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (61 policies)
11.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8.6 millionpaid on 207 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $4.7 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 Harrison County

$229,600median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.9%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; 16,953 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
Jefferson County, KYHigh22
Hardin County, KYLow25
Floyd CountyLow15
Meade County, KYVery Low23
Washington CountyVery Low18
Crawford CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Harrison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Harrison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Harrison County, about $8.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Harrison County had?

Harrison County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Harrison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 34th 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 Harrison County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Harrison 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 Harrison County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Harrison County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 101 hail reports and 63 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Harrison County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Harrison County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 55 mph.

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.