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Posey County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
39th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$16Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$7.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 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.
$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 135 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.7 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow51.2
$8M
EarthquakeLow88.1
$4M
TornadoLow55.9
$2M
Strong windModerate57.2
$753K
Heat waveLow58.4
$605K
Cold waveLow31.6
$507K
HailLow44.8
$239K
DroughtLow51.5
$178K
Ice stormLow57.4
$133K
Winter weatherModerate62.1
$109K
LightningLow24.1
$94K
HurricaneVery Low27.4
$13K
WildfireVery Low3.6
$1K
LandslideVery Low19.3
$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

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor 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 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 17
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

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.

23tornadoes
80hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
119damaging thunderstorm winds
201floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 9, 2024EF3Mt Vernon Arpt0 / 0
Jan 29, 2008EF2Stewartsville0 / 2
Sep 20, 2002F2Wadesville1 / 0
Mar 2, 2012EF2Springfield0 / 0
Feb 28, 2017EF2Griffin0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 24, 2002HailBufkin$2M
Jul 9, 2024TornadoMt Vernon Arpt$1M
Apr 19, 2011Thunderstorm WindGriffin$750K
May 10, 1996Flash FloodPoseyville$500K
Sep 20, 2002TornadoWadesville$500K
Mar 2, 2012TornadoSpringfield$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 ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (106 policies)
14.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.3 millionpaid on 144 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $1.4 million 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 Posey County

$222,900median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7%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; 11,105 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
Vanderburgh CountyModerate18
Henderson County, KYLow22
Gibson CountyLow20
White County, ILLow8
Union County, KYVery Low26
Gallatin County, ILVery Low9

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.