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Perry County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
58th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$11Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$6.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$2.1 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
$889,781 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 floodingLow49.0
$7M
TornadoLow64.5
$2M
Strong windModerate66.1
$890K
EarthquakeLow64.8
$616K
Heat waveLow47.5
$341K
Cold waveLow25.0
$334K
HailLow47.1
$241K
Ice stormModerate61.8
$150K
LightningVery Low22.1
$78K
DroughtLow40.8
$73K
Winter weatherLow41.2
$49K
HurricaneVery Low17.1
$5K
LandslideVery Low55.7
$2K
WildfireVery Low5.9
$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

Severe Storm10
Flood6
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
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
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
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Show all 21
Sep 1, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 6, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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.

15tornadoes
47hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
105damaging thunderstorm winds
62floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F5–6 / 2
Dec 9, 1952F3–0 / 0
Nov 19, 1970F3–2 / 0
Apr 28, 2002F2Tobinsport12 / 0
Apr 30, 1997F1Bristow0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$250M
Apr 28, 2002TornadoTobinsport$800K
Apr 30, 1997TornadoBristow$300K
Dec 9, 1952Tornado–$250K
May 30, 2004Thunderstorm WindTell City$200K
Jan 29, 2008Thunderstorm WindBristow$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.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 55 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 Perry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
9.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$298,445paid on 42 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $112,219 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 Perry County

$163,400median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.5%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; 8,597 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
Dubois CountyLow14
Meade County, KYVery Low23
Breckinridge County, KYVery Low26
Spencer CountyVery Low13
Crawford CountyVery Low19
Hancock County, KYVery Low23

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.