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Pulaski County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
86th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$5Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$667,755 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 floodingVery Low18.4
$2M
Cold waveLow56.9
$1M
TornadoLow34.6
$668K
Strong windLow33.6
$333K
HailLow44.8
$215K
EarthquakeVery Low42.9
$183K
Heat waveVery Low30.3
$139K
LightningVery Low16.3
$56K
Ice stormLow40.0
$53K
Winter weatherVery Low19.1
$17K
HurricaneVery Low31.1
$15K
DroughtVery Low18.6
$3K
WildfireVery Low1.9
$739
LandslideVery Low34.8
$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

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm4
Flood4
Tornado1
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
May 4, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
May 8, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe 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 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.

17tornadoes
50hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
81damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 17, 1963F4–2 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F4–7 / 0
Jun 21, 1951F3–2 / 0
Jun 11, 1998F2Ripley1 / 0
Apr 26, 1994F2Francesville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 21, 1951Tornado–$3M
Jun 11, 1998TornadoRipley$1M
Apr 26, 1994TornadoFrancesville$500K
Jun 26, 1970Tornado–$250K
Jun 16, 1973Tornado–$250K
Jul 23, 2022Thunderstorm WindStar 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 ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (51 policies)
13.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.6 millionpaid on 173 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest 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 Pulaski County

$156,400median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.8%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; 5,850 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
Marshall CountyVery Low15
Cass CountyLow15
Jasper CountyVery Low17
White CountyVery Low16
Starke CountyVery Low16
Fulton CountyVery Low16

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.