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Orange County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
53rd of 92highest risk in Indiana
$11Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Orange County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 60% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $576 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 113 claims here, including $598,000 for floods in 2004.

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

Top risks in Orange County

$5.6 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$867,662 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.6
$6M
TornadoModerate76.7
$3M
Strong windModerate69.2
$868K
EarthquakeLow71.5
$795K
Heat waveLow50.8
$351K
Cold waveLow27.7
$336K
DroughtLow52.5
$156K
HailLow34.1
$127K
Winter weatherLow59.6
$81K
LightningVery Low21.2
$66K
Ice stormLow46.4
$66K
HurricaneVery Low22.9
$7K
WildfireVery Low12.8
$4K
LandslideVery Low46.3
$986

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 1, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 17
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 251 storm reports in Orange County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $4.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990.

23tornadoes
64hail reports, largest 3 inches
122damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 2, 1990F4–0 / 0
May 25, 2011EF2Orleans Arpt0 / 0
Aug 1, 1954F2–0 / 0
Apr 19, 2011EF2Roland0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$3M
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$250K
Jun 7, 1980Tornado–$250K
May 27, 2004Flash FloodPaoli$250K
May 27, 2004Thunderstorm WindChambersburg$250K
May 25, 2011TornadoOrleans Arpt$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Orange County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (29 policies)
11.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 113 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $598,089 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 Orange County

$158,700median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.2%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; 9,101 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
Lawrence CountyLow19
Dubois CountyLow14
Washington CountyVery Low18
Crawford CountyVery Low19
Martin CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Orange County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Orange County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Orange County, about $5.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Orange County had?

Orange County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Orange County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 53rd 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 Orange County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Orange 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 Orange County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Orange County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990. The weather service has also logged 64 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.