Monroe County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Monroe County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 76% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $38 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $272 per resident. Since 1977 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 (169 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.8 million on 126 claims here, including $1.9 million for floods in 2021.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Monroe 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 80.8 | $22M | ||
| Tornado | 82.2 | $5M | ||
| Earthquake | 87.6 | $4M | ||
| Strong wind | 90.4 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 84.6 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 58.0 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 74.5 | $730K | ||
| Winter weather | 89.3 | $413K | ||
| Lightning | 62.4 | $388K | ||
| Ice storm | 65.0 | $179K | ||
| Drought | 29.2 | $24K | ||
| Wildfire | 31.2 | $16K | ||
| Hurricane | 23.8 | $9K | ||
| Landslide | 53.8 | $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 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 Monroe 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 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 373 storm reports in Monroe County since 1958, with 6 deaths and 18 injuries and about $73.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 20, 2002 near Ellettsville.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2002 | F3 | Ellettsville | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 2026 | EF3 | Stinesville | 1 / 0 |
| Mar 31, 2023 | EF3 | Stinesville | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Feb 19, 2026 | EF2 | Mnroe Co Arpt B | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2021 | Flash Flood | Arlington | $25M |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Tornado | Mnroe Co Arpt B | $20M |
| Sep 20, 2002 | Tornado | Ellettsville | $10M |
| Jun 25, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bloomington | $5M |
| Jun 19, 2021 | Flash Flood | Yellowstone | $2M |
| Jun 17, 2026 | Tornado | Stinesville | $2M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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; 65,657 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan County | 18 | |
| Jackson County | 15 | |
| Lawrence County | 19 | |
| Greene County | 17 | |
| Owen County | 18 | |
| Brown County | 15 |
Cities in Monroe County
Common questions about Monroe County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Monroe County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Monroe County, about $21.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Monroe County had?
Monroe County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Monroe County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 16th 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 Monroe County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Monroe 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 Monroe County had?
NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Monroe County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 20, 2002 near Ellettsville. The weather service has also logged 115 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.