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LaGrange County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$13Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

LaGrange County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $311 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (172 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $625,000 on 45 claims here.

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

Top risks in LaGrange County

$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.
$1.2 million 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 floodingLow65.6
$6M
TornadoModerate80.9
$2M
Strong windHigh91.6
$1M
Cold waveModerate69.8
$1M
HailModerate86.7
$750K
DroughtModerate75.7
$398K
EarthquakeLow60.9
$262K
LightningModerate58.9
$177K
Heat waveVery Low38.0
$115K
Ice stormLow44.8
$37K
HurricaneVery Low48.6
$35K
Winter weatherLow46.2
$31K
WildfireVery Low29.9
$8K
LandslideVery Low50.6
$770

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 high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Snowstorm5
Tornado2
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor 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 209 storm reports in LaGrange County since 1956, with 11 deaths and 119 injuries and about $12.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.

16tornadoes
38hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
151damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–41 / 5
Apr 11, 1965F4–42 / 5
May 6, 1961F3–5 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F3–0 / 0
Mar 12, 1976F2–9 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$3M
May 6, 1961Tornado–$3M
May 18, 1997TornadoLagrange$2M
May 18, 1997Thunderstorm WindShipshewana$2M
May 18, 1997TornadoStone Lake$2M
Apr 15, 1993Thunderstorm WindWarsaw$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 16, 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 LaGrange County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (172 policies)
12.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$624,952paid on 45 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $429,519 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 LaGrange County

$255,900median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.3%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; 15,151 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
St. Joseph County, MILow6
Noble CountyLow14
Branch County, MILow4
DeKalb CountyVery Low13
Steuben CountyVery Low10

Common questions about LaGrange County

What is the biggest natural hazard in LaGrange County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in LaGrange County, about $6.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has LaGrange County had?

LaGrange County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is LaGrange County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 LaGrange County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in LaGrange 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 LaGrange County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in LaGrange County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 38 hail reports and 4 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.