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Parke County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
66th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$8Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Parke County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $486 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 16 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $348,000 on 20 claims here.

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

Top risks in Parke County

$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$976,277 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 Low34.4
$3M
Cold waveLow61.3
$1M
TornadoLow47.5
$976K
Strong windLow51.4
$494K
EarthquakeLow62.5
$451K
DroughtModerate68.7
$422K
HailLow57.5
$300K
Heat waveLow45.2
$252K
LightningLow32.5
$103K
Winter weatherLow60.5
$79K
Ice stormLow33.2
$33K
LandslideLow79.0
$12K
HurricaneVery Low26.4
$9K
WildfireVery Low9.6
$3K

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 Parke County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood4
Snowstorm3
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Sep 9, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 273 storm reports in Parke County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $3.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 29, 1963.

14tornadoes
50hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
140damaging thunderstorm winds
68floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 29, 1963F3–0 / 0
Mar 15, 2025EF1Mecca0 / 0
Apr 2, 2025EF1Numa0 / 0
Apr 19, 2011EF1Waterman0 / 0
Mar 14, 1953F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 9, 2003Thunderstorm WindRosedale$1M
Mar 15, 2025TornadoMecca$350K
Apr 29, 1963Tornado–$250K
Apr 2, 2025TornadoNuma$200K
Jun 29, 2023Thunderstorm WindRockville$150K
Apr 2, 2026Thunderstorm WindBridgeton$125K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Parke County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (16 policies)
7.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$348,156paid on 20 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $103,125 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 Parke County

$151,200median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.1%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; 7,657 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
Vigo CountyModerate14
Montgomery CountyVery Low19
Putnam CountyLow18
Clay CountyVery Low18
Fountain CountyVery Low11
Vermillion CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Parke County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Parke County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Parke County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Parke County had?

Parke County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Parke County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th 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 Parke County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Parke 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 Parke County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Parke County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 29, 1963. The weather service has also logged 50 hail reports and 68 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.