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Noble County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
42nd of 92highest risk in Indiana
$13Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Noble County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 42nd of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $277 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (192 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.8 million on 226 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Noble County

$5.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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
$1.3 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 floodingLow48.4
$6M
TornadoModerate74.5
$3M
Strong windModerate81.6
$1M
Cold waveLow58.6
$1M
HailModerate74.1
$628K
DroughtModerate69.5
$474K
EarthquakeVery Low54.5
$327K
LightningLow45.9
$189K
Heat waveVery Low28.5
$115K
Winter weatherLow42.4
$46K
Ice stormLow38.5
$46K
HurricaneVery Low30.4
$14K
WildfireVery Low16.6
$5K
LandslideVery Low58.7
$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 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 Noble County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm3
Tornado1
Flood1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Show all 14
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Sep 18, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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 304 storm reports in Noble County since 1954, with 4 deaths and 103 injuries and about $58.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

15tornadoes
85hail reports, largest 3 inches
198damaging thunderstorm winds
3floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–24 / 1
Apr 3, 1974F3–38 / 3
Jul 14, 1992F2–28 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F2–9 / 0
Oct 24, 2001F1Kendallville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$25M
Jul 14, 1992Tornado–$25M
May 18, 1997Thunderstorm WindNear Ligonier$4M
Oct 24, 2001TornadoKendallville$1M
Sep 24, 2024TornadoKimmell$500K
Oct 24, 2001Thunderstorm WindCountywide$400K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 16, 2025. 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 Noble County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (192 policies)
18%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.8 millionpaid on 226 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $1.1 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 Noble County

$196,800median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%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; 20,297 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
Allen CountyModerate16
Elkhart CountyModerate11
Kosciusko CountyLow16
DeKalb CountyVery Low13
LaGrange CountyLow10
Steuben CountyVery Low10
Whitley CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Noble County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Noble County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Noble County, about $5.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Noble County had?

Noble County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Noble County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 42nd 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 Noble County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Noble 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 Noble County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Noble County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 85 hail reports and 3 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.