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Jennings County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
62nd of 92highest risk in Indiana
$10Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Jennings County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 68% of US counties. It ranks 62nd 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 $354 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 21 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $102,000 on 10 claims here.

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

Top risks in Jennings County

$5.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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 4 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
$641,399 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow44.4
$5M
TornadoModerate67.8
$2M
Strong windModerate57.4
$641K
EarthquakeLow63.5
$523K
Cold waveLow28.5
$364K
LightningLow45.1
$185K
DroughtLow51.2
$149K
Heat waveVery Low29.1
$120K
HailVery Low29.7
$111K
Ice stormLow56.2
$106K
Winter weatherVery Low21.0
$18K
LandslideLow78.0
$12K
HurricaneVery Low23.4
$8K
WildfireVery Low14.2
$5K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 175 storm reports in Jennings County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 12 injuries and about $2.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 9, 1999 near San Jacinto.

13tornadoes
41hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
92damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 9, 1999F3San Jacinto0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F3–5 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F2–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1967F2–1 / 0
Jun 12, 2005F1North Vernon0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 4, 2008FloodVernon$500K
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$250K
Apr 9, 1999TornadoSan Jacinto$250K
Mar 4, 2026Flash FloodZenas$150K
Jun 12, 2005TornadoNorth Vernon$100K
May 15, 2007TornadoNorth Vernon$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 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 Jennings County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (21 policies)
10.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$102,223paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $26,655 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 Jennings County

$161,500median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.6%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; 11,731 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
Bartholomew CountyLow11
Jackson CountyLow15
Jefferson CountyLow23
Ripley CountyLow15
Decatur CountyVery Low14
Scott CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Jennings County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jennings County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jennings County, about $5.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Jennings County had?

Jennings County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Jennings County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 62nd 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 Jennings County?

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

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Jennings County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 9, 1999 near San Jacinto. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 27 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.