Home › Indiana › Switzerland County

Switzerland County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
85th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$5Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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
$803,255 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 floodingVery Low21.5
$3M
TornadoLow49.2
$1M
Strong windModerate62.8
$803K
Cold waveVery Low21.1
$252K
EarthquakeVery Low31.3
$89K
LightningVery Low19.8
$69K
Heat waveVery Low19.9
$62K
LandslideModerate88.0
$46K
Ice stormLow32.1
$37K
DroughtLow32.8
$34K
HailVery Low8.6
$25K
Winter weatherVery Low9.8
$8K
HurricaneVery Low10.9
$2K
WildfireVery Low3.0
$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

Severe Storm10
Flood5
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 6, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Sep 18, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
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 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.

11tornadoes
31hail reports, largest 3 inches
99damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 22, 1992F4–1 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F4–40 / 0
Mar 14, 2024EF1Vevay Robinson Arpt0 / 0
Apr 20, 2011EF1Antioch0 / 0
Apr 8, 1980F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 3, 2022Flash FloodAvonburg$18M
Nov 22, 1992Tornado–$3M
Mar 14, 2024TornadoVevay Robinson Arpt$250K
Jun 18, 2026TornadoBraytown$100K
Apr 20, 2011TornadoAntioch$90K
Mar 28, 1997Thunderstorm WindVevay$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 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 ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (56 policies)
10.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 110 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $868,561 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 Switzerland County

$175,800median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.7%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; 4,456 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
Boone County, KYLow11
Jefferson CountyLow23
Ripley CountyLow15
Carroll County, KYVery Low20
Gallatin County, KYVery Low15
Ohio CountyVery Low17

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.