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Pike County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
81st of 92highest risk in Indiana
$6Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pike County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 81st of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $498 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 4 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Pike County

$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 200 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$751,815 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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 Low26.8
$3M
EarthquakeLow79.6
$1M
TornadoLow40.3
$752K
Strong windLow45.6
$412K
Heat waveLow49.1
$306K
DroughtLow58.6
$223K
Cold waveVery Low12.7
$101K
HailVery Low28.5
$95K
LightningLow25.2
$76K
Winter weatherLow47.2
$50K
Ice stormLow31.1
$29K
HurricaneVery Low24.4
$7K
WildfireVery Low11.6
$3K
LandslideVery Low24.5
$157

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 high 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 Pike County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood5
Snowstorm2
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
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor 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 20
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor 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
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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 331 storm reports in Pike County since 1954, with 7 deaths and 63 injuries and about $38.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990.

32tornadoes
50hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
91damaging thunderstorm winds
152floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 2, 1990F4–60 / 6
Jun 2, 1990F4–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F4–0 / 0
Mar 15, 2025EF2Dongola0 / 0
May 25, 2006F2Otwell0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$25M
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$3M
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$3M
Mar 15, 2025TornadoDongola$2M
May 25, 2006TornadoOtwell$1M
May 10, 1996Flash FloodArthur$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 28, 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 Pike County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
6.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$44,000paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $44,000 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 Pike County

$154,900median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.1%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; 5,589 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
Warrick CountyLow18
Dubois CountyLow14
Knox CountyLow16
Daviess CountyLow16
Gibson CountyLow20

Common questions about Pike County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pike County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pike County, about $2.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Pike County had?

Pike County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Pike County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 81st 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 Pike County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Pike 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 Pike County had?

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Pike County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990. The weather service has also logged 50 hail reports and 152 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.