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Johnson County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
18th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$54Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Johnson County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 75% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $54 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $331 per resident. Since 1991 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (360 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $13 million on 454 claims here, including $11 million for floods in 2008.

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

Top risks in Johnson County

$29.8 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
$10.8 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.
$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate78.9
$30M
TornadoModerate89.3
$11M
Strong windHigh91.5
$4M
EarthquakeLow81.6
$3M
Cold waveLow57.2
$2M
HailModerate82.4
$2M
Heat waveLow65.6
$1M
LightningModerate59.3
$519K
Winter weatherHigh85.5
$460K
DroughtLow50.4
$240K
Ice stormLow58.0
$196K
WildfireVery Low19.7
$12K
LandslideLow63.1
$5K
HurricaneVery Low11.3
$4K

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 Johnson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 15, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor 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
Sep 5, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 14
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 432 storm reports in Johnson County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 39 injuries and about $253 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 11, 1954.

24tornadoes
126hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
210damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 11, 1954F3–0 / 2
Sep 20, 2002F3Greenwood0 / 0
Mar 31, 2023EF3New Whiteland0 / 0
Mar 10, 1986F3–3 / 0
Jul 30, 1992F3–25 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 7, 2008Flash FloodPrinces Lakes$180M
Sep 20, 2002TornadoGreenwood$25M
Jun 3, 2008TornadoPrinces Lakes$23M
Mar 31, 2023TornadoNew Whiteland$7M
Mar 31, 2006TornadoGreenwood$3M
Mar 10, 1986Tornado–$3M

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 Johnson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (360 policies)
17.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$12.6 millionpaid on 454 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $11.2 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 Johnson County

$284,600median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
35%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.4%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; 65,915 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
Bartholomew CountyLow11
Morgan CountyLow18
Shelby CountyLow13
Brown CountyVery Low15

Cities in Johnson County

Common questions about Johnson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnson County, about $29.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $10.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Johnson County had?

Johnson County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1991, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Johnson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 18th 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 Johnson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Johnson 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 Johnson County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Johnson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 11, 1954. The weather service has also logged 126 hail reports and 39 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.