Martin County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Martin County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 83rd of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $5.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $533 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $212,000 on 14 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Martin County
- 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 28.3 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 34.7 | $653K | ||
| Strong wind | 40.3 | $410K | ||
| Earthquake | 55.0 | $351K | ||
| Heat wave | 35.7 | $181K | ||
| Cold wave | 15.6 | $156K | ||
| Drought | 43.1 | $86K | ||
| Hail | 14.2 | $46K | ||
| Winter weather | 34.9 | $36K | ||
| Lightning | 10.8 | $35K | ||
| Ice storm | 28.2 | $28K | ||
| Hurricane | 13.3 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 45.8 | $1K | ||
| Wildfire | 2.6 | $967 |
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 Martin County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 181 storm reports in Martin County since 1957, with 4 deaths and 7 injuries and about $25.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 1990 | F4 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1990 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 2023 | EF2 | Hindostan Falls | 1 / 1 |
| May 30, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 2005 | F1 | Bramble | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 2008 | Flood | Shoals | $18M |
| Jun 2, 1990 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 25, 2023 | Tornado | Hindostan Falls | $1M |
| Oct 9, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | – | $1M |
| Nov 15, 2005 | Tornado | Bramble | $500K |
| Jun 2, 1990 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 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 Martin County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Martin County
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; 4,583 housing units.
Compare in Indiana
All 92 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County | Inland flooding | |
| Lake County | Inland flooding | |
| Allen County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Joseph County | Inland flooding | |
| Elkhart County | Inland flooding | |
| Tippecanoe County | Inland flooding | |
| Vanderburgh County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | 19 | |
| Dubois County | 14 | |
| Daviess County | 16 | |
| Greene County | 17 | |
| Orange County | 17 |
Common questions about Martin County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Martin County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Martin County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $653,060.
How many federal disasters has Martin County had?
Martin County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Martin County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 83rd 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 Martin County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Martin 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 Martin County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Martin County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990. The weather service has also logged 33 hail reports and 38 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.