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Lawrence County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
37th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$16Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lawrence County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 37th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $362 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.0 million on 43 claims here, including $418,000 for floods in 2005.

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

Top risks in Lawrence County

$8.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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
$3.2 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.4 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 floodingLow55.9
$9M
TornadoModerate74.3
$3M
Strong windModerate79.9
$1M
EarthquakeLow75.7
$1M
Heat waveLow62.3
$690K
Cold waveLow30.1
$449K
HailLow39.3
$186K
LightningLow39.3
$168K
Winter weatherModerate69.4
$136K
DroughtLow47.7
$134K
Ice stormLow52.9
$104K
WildfireVery Low15.6
$6K
HurricaneVery Low15.6
$4K
LandslideVery Low39.8
$694

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood4
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor 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
Show all 19
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Aug 17, 1992Severe Storms & Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 335 storm reports in Lawrence County since 1955, with 4 deaths and 59 injuries and about $65 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990.

27tornadoes
80hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
158damaging thunderstorm winds
65floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 2, 1990F4–51 / 1
Jun 2, 1990F4–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F3–0 / 0
Mar 8, 2009EF3Fayetteville1 / 0
Apr 19, 1963F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 7, 2008FloodRiver Vale$30M
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$25M
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$3M
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$3M
Apr 15, 1994TornadoBryantsville$500K
Apr 3, 2025Flash FloodSilverville$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 21, 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 Lawrence County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (32 policies)
10.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1 millionpaid on 43 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $418,255 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 Lawrence County

$175,000median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
58%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; 20,545 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
Monroe CountyLow14
Jackson CountyLow15
Greene CountyVery Low17
Washington CountyVery Low18
Orange CountyVery Low17
Martin CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Lawrence County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lawrence County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lawrence County, about $8.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Lawrence County had?

Lawrence County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Lawrence County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 37th 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 Lawrence County?

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

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Lawrence County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990. The weather service has also logged 80 hail reports and 65 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.