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Monroe County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
16th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$38Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$21.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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
$4.7 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.
$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 400 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate80.8
$22M
TornadoModerate82.2
$5M
EarthquakeLow87.6
$4M
Strong windHigh90.4
$2M
Heat waveModerate84.6
$2M
Cold waveLow58.0
$1M
HailModerate74.5
$730K
Winter weatherHigh89.3
$413K
LightningModerate62.4
$388K
Ice stormModerate65.0
$179K
DroughtVery Low29.2
$24K
WildfireVery Low31.2
$16K
HurricaneVery Low23.8
$9K
LandslideVery Low53.8
$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

Severe Storm8
Snowstorm2
Flood2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 15, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor 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
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 14
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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.

24tornadoes
115hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
190damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 20, 2002F3Ellettsville0 / 0
Jun 17, 2026EF3Stinesville1 / 0
Mar 31, 2023EF3Stinesville0 / 0
Nov 22, 1992F3–3 / 0
Feb 19, 2026EF2Mnroe Co Arpt B0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 18, 2021Flash FloodArlington$25M
Feb 19, 2026TornadoMnroe Co Arpt B$20M
Sep 20, 2002TornadoEllettsville$10M
Jun 25, 2024Thunderstorm WindBloomington$5M
Jun 19, 2021Flash FloodYellowstone$2M
Jun 17, 2026TornadoStinesville$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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (169 policies)
16.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.8 millionpaid on 126 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $1.9 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 Monroe County

$285,200median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.7%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; 65,657 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
Morgan CountyLow18
Jackson CountyLow15
Lawrence CountyLow19
Greene CountyVery Low17
Owen CountyVery Low18
Brown CountyVery Low15

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.