Switzerland County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Switzerland County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 85th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $5.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $544 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (56 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 110 claims here, including $869,000 for floods in 1997.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Switzerland 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 21.5 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 49.2 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 62.8 | $803K | ||
| Cold wave | 21.1 | $252K | ||
| Earthquake | 31.3 | $89K | ||
| Lightning | 19.8 | $69K | ||
| Heat wave | 19.9 | $62K | ||
| Landslide | 88.0 | $46K | ||
| Ice storm | 32.1 | $37K | ||
| Drought | 32.8 | $34K | ||
| Hail | 8.6 | $25K | ||
| Winter weather | 9.8 | $8K | ||
| Hurricane | 10.9 | $2K | ||
| Wildfire | 3.0 | $1K |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Switzerland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 20
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 184 storm reports in Switzerland County since 1956, with 2 deaths and 41 injuries and about $21.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on November 22, 1992.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 1992 | F4 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | F4 | – | 40 / 0 |
| Mar 14, 2024 | EF1 | Vevay Robinson Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 2011 | EF1 | Antioch | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2022 | Flash Flood | Avonburg | $18M |
| Nov 22, 1992 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 14, 2024 | Tornado | Vevay Robinson Arpt | $250K |
| Jun 18, 2026 | Tornado | Braytown | $100K |
| Apr 20, 2011 | Tornado | Antioch | $90K |
| Mar 28, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Vevay | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 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.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Switzerland County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 57 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 57 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 57 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Switzerland 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 Switzerland 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; 4,456 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Boone County, KY | 11 | |
| Jefferson County | 23 | |
| Ripley County | 15 | |
| Carroll County, KY | 20 | |
| Gallatin County, KY | 15 | |
| Ohio County | 17 |
Common questions about Switzerland County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Switzerland County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Switzerland County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Switzerland County had?
Switzerland County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Switzerland County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 85th 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 Switzerland County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Switzerland 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 Switzerland County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Switzerland County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on November 22, 1992. The weather service has also logged 31 hail reports and 43 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Switzerland County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Switzerland County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 50 mph.
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.