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Steuben County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
67th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$10Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Steuben County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 73% of US counties. It ranks 67th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $292 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (105 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $151,000 on 55 claims here.

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

Top risks in Steuben County

$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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
$886,546 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 floodingLow38.2
$5M
TornadoLow60.4
$2M
Strong windModerate63.1
$887K
Cold waveLow39.9
$730K
HailLow66.6
$540K
EarthquakeVery Low44.1
$219K
DroughtLow52.6
$195K
LightningLow38.7
$171K
Heat waveVery Low27.0
$125K
Ice stormLow39.0
$56K
Winter weatherLow24.9
$26K
HurricaneVery Low28.5
$14K
WildfireVery Low12.9
$5K
LandslideVery Low56.8
$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 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 Steuben County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm4
Tornado2
Flood1
Severe Storm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 285 storm reports in Steuben County since 1960, with 3 deaths and 30 injuries and about $40 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.

22tornadoes
83hail reports, largest 3 inches
169damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F3–15 / 2
Mar 27, 1991F3–6 / 1
May 6, 1961F3–0 / 0
Aug 15, 1969F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 27, 1991Tornado–$25M
May 18, 1997TornadoAngola Airport$10M
May 6, 1961Tornado–$3M
Mar 10, 2009FloodClear Lake$500K
Jul 21, 1998LightningFremont$312K
Jul 21, 1998Thunderstorm WindAngola$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 Steuben County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (105 policies)
11.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$151,420paid on 55 flood claims since 1978
1982costliest year, with $44,951 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 Steuben County

$216,200median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.5%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; 19,181 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
Noble CountyLow14
Hillsdale County, MILow6
Branch County, MILow4
DeKalb CountyVery Low13
LaGrange CountyLow10
Williams County, OHLow6

Common questions about Steuben County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Steuben County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Steuben County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Steuben County had?

Steuben County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Steuben County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 67th 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 Steuben County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Steuben 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 Steuben County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Steuben County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 83 hail reports and 7 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.