Perry County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Perry County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 65% of US counties. It ranks 58th 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 $600 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $298,000 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 Perry County
- 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 49.0 | $7M | ||
| Tornado | 64.5 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 66.1 | $890K | ||
| Earthquake | 64.8 | $616K | ||
| Heat wave | 47.5 | $341K | ||
| Cold wave | 25.0 | $334K | ||
| Hail | 47.1 | $241K | ||
| Ice storm | 61.8 | $150K | ||
| Lightning | 22.1 | $78K | ||
| Drought | 40.8 | $73K | ||
| Winter weather | 41.2 | $49K | ||
| Hurricane | 17.1 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 55.7 | $2K | ||
| Wildfire | 5.9 | $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 low 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 Perry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 21
Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 229 storm reports in Perry County since 1952, with 5 deaths and 20 injuries and about $253 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1974 | F5 | – | 6 / 2 |
| Dec 9, 1952 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 19, 1970 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | F2 | Tobinsport | 12 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 1997 | F1 | Bristow | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado | – | $250M |
| Apr 28, 2002 | Tornado | Tobinsport | $800K |
| Apr 30, 1997 | Tornado | Bristow | $300K |
| Dec 9, 1952 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 30, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tell City | $200K |
| Jan 29, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bristow | $200K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 10, 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.
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 Perry County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 55 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 59 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 Perry County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Perry County
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; 8,597 housing units.
Compare in Indiana
All 92 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County | Inland flooding | |
| Lake County | Inland flooding | |
| Allen County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Joseph County | Inland flooding | |
| Elkhart County | Inland flooding | |
| Tippecanoe County | Inland flooding | |
| Vanderburgh County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Dubois County | 14 | |
| Meade County, KY | 23 | |
| Breckinridge County, KY | 26 | |
| Spencer County | 13 | |
| Crawford County | 19 | |
| Hancock County, KY | 23 |
Common questions about Perry County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Perry County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Perry County, about $6.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Perry County had?
Perry County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Perry County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 58th 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 Perry County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Perry 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 Perry County had?
NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Perry County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 47 hail reports and 62 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Perry County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Perry County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 55 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.