Pulaski County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Pulaski County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 86th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $411 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (51 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.6 million on 173 claims here, including $1.4 million for floods in 2009.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Pulaski 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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 | 18.4 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 56.9 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 34.6 | $668K | ||
| Strong wind | 33.6 | $333K | ||
| Hail | 44.8 | $215K | ||
| Earthquake | 42.9 | $183K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.3 | $139K | ||
| Lightning | 16.3 | $56K | ||
| Ice storm | 40.0 | $53K | ||
| Winter weather | 19.1 | $17K | ||
| Hurricane | 31.1 | $15K | ||
| Drought | 18.6 | $3K | ||
| Wildfire | 1.9 | $739 | ||
| Landslide | 34.8 | $451 |
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 Pulaski County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 152 storm reports in Pulaski County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $4.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 17, 1963.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 1963 | F4 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | F4 | – | 7 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1951 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 1998 | F2 | Ripley | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1994 | F2 | Francesville | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 1951 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 11, 1998 | Tornado | Ripley | $1M |
| Apr 26, 1994 | Tornado | Francesville | $500K |
| Jun 26, 1970 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 16, 1973 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 23, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Star City | $40K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 30, 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 Pulaski 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 Pulaski 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; 5,850 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | 15 | |
| Cass County | 15 | |
| Jasper County | 17 | |
| White County | 16 | |
| Starke County | 16 | |
| Fulton County | 16 |
Common questions about Pulaski County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Pulaski County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pulaski County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Pulaski County had?
Pulaski County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Pulaski County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 86th 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 Pulaski County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County had?
NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Pulaski County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 17, 1963. The weather service has also logged 50 hail reports and 4 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.