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Newton County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
84th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$6Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Newton 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 84th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $420 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 48 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $416,000 on 42 claims here.

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

Top risks in Newton County

$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$658,169 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low19.3
$3M
Cold waveLow60.4
$2M
TornadoLow32.5
$658K
Strong windLow33.0
$364K
EarthquakeVery Low44.8
$226K
HailLow38.8
$189K
Heat waveVery Low27.6
$130K
LightningVery Low10.0
$37K
Ice stormVery Low12.3
$8K
HurricaneVery Low16.4
$5K
WildfireVery Low10.3
$4K
Winter weatherVery Low3.6
$3K
LandslideVery Low28.8
$314

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm4
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 4, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 17
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
May 8, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1991Severe Ice StormMajor 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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 223 storm reports in Newton County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 29 injuries and about $6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 17, 1963.

28tornadoes
63hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
104damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 17, 1963F4–2 / 0
Mar 10, 2026EF3Lake Village Airport10 / 2
Mar 12, 1976F3–7 / 0
Jul 6, 1987F2–3 / 0
May 25, 2011EF2Mt Ayr0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 6, 1987Tornado–$3M
Jan 8, 2008Flash FloodMarocco$1M
Sep 15, 2008FloodThayer$1M
Feb 4, 2008Flash FloodEffner$500K
Mar 12, 1976Tornado–$250K
Nov 17, 2013TornadoGoodland$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Newton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (48 policies)
15.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$415,699paid on 42 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $149,502 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 Newton County

$171,500median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 6,093 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
Lake CountyHigh22
Kankakee County, ILModerate5
Jasper CountyVery Low17
Iroquois County, ILLow7
Benton CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Newton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Newton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Newton County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Newton County had?

Newton County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Newton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 84th 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 Newton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Newton 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 Newton County had?

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Newton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 17, 1963. The weather service has also logged 63 hail reports and 21 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.