Posey County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Posey County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $649 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (106 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.3 million on 144 claims here, including $1.4 million for floods in 2011.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Posey 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 51.2 | $8M | ||
| Earthquake | 88.1 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 55.9 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 57.2 | $753K | ||
| Heat wave | 58.4 | $605K | ||
| Cold wave | 31.6 | $507K | ||
| Hail | 44.8 | $239K | ||
| Drought | 51.5 | $178K | ||
| Ice storm | 57.4 | $133K | ||
| Winter weather | 62.1 | $109K | ||
| Lightning | 24.1 | $94K | ||
| Hurricane | 27.4 | $13K | ||
| Wildfire | 3.6 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 19.3 | $122 |
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 very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Posey County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 17
Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 433 storm reports in Posey County since 1958, with 2 deaths and 4 injuries and about $10.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on July 9, 2024 near Mt Vernon Arpt.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2024 | EF3 | Mt Vernon Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 29, 2008 | EF2 | Stewartsville | 0 / 2 |
| Sep 20, 2002 | F2 | Wadesville | 1 / 0 |
| Mar 2, 2012 | EF2 | Springfield | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 28, 2017 | EF2 | Griffin | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2002 | Hail | Bufkin | $2M |
| Jul 9, 2024 | Tornado | Mt Vernon Arpt | $1M |
| Apr 19, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Griffin | $750K |
| May 10, 1996 | Flash Flood | Poseyville | $500K |
| Sep 20, 2002 | Tornado | Wadesville | $500K |
| Mar 2, 2012 | Tornado | Springfield | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 19, 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.
Flood insurance in Posey 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 Posey 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; 11,105 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vanderburgh County | 18 | |
| Henderson County, KY | 22 | |
| Gibson County | 20 | |
| White County, IL | 8 | |
| Union County, KY | 26 | |
| Gallatin County, IL | 9 |
Common questions about Posey County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Posey County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Posey County, about $7.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $4.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Posey County had?
Posey County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Posey County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 39th 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 Posey County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Posey 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 Posey County had?
NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Posey County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on July 9, 2024 near Mt Vernon Arpt. The weather service has also logged 80 hail reports and 201 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.