Home › Indiana › Ohio County

Ohio County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
92nd of 92highest risk in Indiana
$3Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Ohio County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 92nd of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $3.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $510 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $111,000 on 17 claims here.

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

Top risks in Ohio County

$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$779,661 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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.
$541,817 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low7.8
$1M
TornadoLow34.5
$780K
Strong windLow43.9
$542K
Cold waveVery Low19.1
$245K
EarthquakeVery Low25.5
$54K
LightningVery Low13.0
$54K
Heat waveVery Low11.8
$28K
LandslideLow82.9
$28K
Ice stormVery Low18.5
$16K
HailVery Low4.6
$13K
DroughtVery Low22.7
$9K
Winter weatherVery Low5.8
$5K
WildfireVery Low0.9
$439
HurricaneVery Low7.1
$256

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 very low and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 4, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 17
Mar 6, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Sep 18, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 30, 1968FloodingMajor disaster

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 104 storm reports in Ohio County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 64 injuries and about $1.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974.

7tornadoes
11hail reports, largest 3 inches
66damaging thunderstorm winds
20floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F5–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F4–64 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF1Bear Branch0 / 0
Jun 17, 2026EF1Hartford0 / 0
Apr 8, 2020EF0Milton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 16, 1993Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Jan 3, 2000Flash FloodRising Sun$100K
Sep 3, 2022Flash FloodAberdeen$55K
Mar 1, 2017Thunderstorm WindMilton$50K
Apr 8, 2020TornadoMilton$50K
Apr 2, 2024TornadoBear Branch$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Ohio County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Ohio County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (29 policies)
16.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$110,874paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $85,757 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 Ohio County

$213,100median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.7%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; 2,769 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
Boone County, KYLow11
Dearborn CountyLow20
Ripley CountyLow15
Switzerland CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Ohio County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ohio County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ohio County, about $1.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $779,661.

How many federal disasters has Ohio County had?

Ohio County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Ohio County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 92nd 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 Ohio County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Ohio 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 Ohio County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Ohio County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 11 hail reports and 20 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Ohio County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Ohio County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 50 mph.

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.