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Kosciusko County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
22nd of 92highest risk in Indiana
$25Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Kosciusko County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $25 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $310 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (474 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.7 million on 391 claims here, including $2.2 million for floods in 2009.

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

Top risks in Kosciusko County

$9.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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
$5.4 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
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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 floodingLow63.7
$10M
TornadoModerate85.9
$5M
Cold waveModerate85.4
$5M
Strong windHigh91.4
$2M
EarthquakeLow67.7
$680K
Heat waveLow57.5
$508K
LightningModerate67.7
$442K
HailLow53.0
$290K
DroughtLow59.6
$266K
Winter weatherLow58.0
$83K
Ice stormLow41.4
$55K
HurricaneVery Low41.6
$32K
WildfireVery Low24.4
$10K
LandslideVery Low52.8
$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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm6
Snowstorm4
Flood3
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 4, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor 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 523 storm reports in Kosciusko County since 1956, with 2 deaths and 83 injuries and about $17.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

36tornadoes
105hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
353damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–39 / 1
Aug 12, 1956F3–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1956F3–0 / 0
Jul 23, 1961F3–3 / 0
Oct 18, 2007EF2Nappanee0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 14, 2009Thunderstorm WindMentone$5M
Oct 18, 2007TornadoNappanee$3M
Oct 24, 2001TornadoMentone$3M
Jun 11, 1998TornadoEtna Green$800K
Jul 21, 1998Thunderstorm WindWarsaw$500K
Jul 22, 2011Thunderstorm WindWinona Lake$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 Kosciusko County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (474 policies)
20.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.7 millionpaid on 391 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $2.2 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 Kosciusko County

$216,000median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.6%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; 38,864 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
Elkhart CountyModerate11
Noble CountyLow14
Marshall CountyVery Low15
Whitley CountyVery Low13
Wabash CountyVery Low12
Fulton CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Kosciusko County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kosciusko County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Kosciusko County, about $9.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $5.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Kosciusko County had?

Kosciusko County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Kosciusko County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 22nd 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 Kosciusko County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Kosciusko 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 Kosciusko County had?

NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Kosciusko County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 105 hail reports and 14 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.