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Ripley County, Indiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
38th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$14Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Ripley County, Indiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 38th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $486 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $120,000 on 20 claims here.

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

Top risks in Ripley County

$7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.6 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow53.8
$7M
TornadoModerate79.5
$4M
Strong windModerate81.3
$1M
Cold waveLow42.3
$684K
EarthquakeLow65.4
$587K
LightningLow51.2
$232K
HailLow38.1
$159K
DroughtLow51.8
$156K
Heat waveVery Low33.3
$154K
Ice stormLow48.9
$78K
Winter weatherLow28.2
$26K
HurricaneVery Low29.4
$13K
LandslideLow74.7
$8K
WildfireVery Low8.0
$2K

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 moderate 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 Ripley County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 9, 2012Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
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
Show all 15
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 30, 1968FloodingMajor disaster

Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 501 storm reports in Ripley County since 1956, with 3 deaths and 12 injuries and about $5.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

25tornadoes
77hail reports, largest 4 inches
247damaging thunderstorm winds
147floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–0 / 0
Mar 2, 2012EF3Holton5 / 3
Apr 9, 1999F3Rexville2 / 0
Jul 30, 2004F2Holton2 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F2–3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 9, 1999TornadoRexville$1M
Jul 30, 2004TornadoHolton$465K
Mar 2, 2012TornadoHolton$275K
Apr 29, 1970Tornado–$250K
Nov 19, 1981Tornado–$250K
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Ripley County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (11 policies)
7.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$120,078paid on 20 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $49,039 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 Ripley County

$222,500median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.7%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; 12,461 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
Dearborn CountyLow20
Jefferson CountyLow23
Jennings CountyVery Low16
Decatur CountyVery Low14
Franklin CountyVery Low22
Switzerland CountyVery Low20
Ohio CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Ripley County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ripley County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ripley County, about $7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Ripley County had?

Ripley County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Ripley County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 38th 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 Ripley County?

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

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Ripley County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 77 hail reports and 147 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.