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Tippecanoe County, Indiana

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
9th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$49Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tippecanoe County, Indiana has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 82% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $49 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $266 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (177 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.2 million on 218 claims here.

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

Top risks in Tippecanoe County

$20.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.
$13.9 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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 floodingModerate79.7
$21M
Cold waveHigh95.6
$14M
TornadoModerate83.3
$5M
HailModerate92.7
$2M
Heat waveModerate85.9
$2M
EarthquakeLow80.3
$2M
Strong windHigh85.2
$2M
Winter weatherHigh95.3
$754K
LightningModerate66.0
$459K
DroughtLow56.5
$240K
Ice stormModerate63.0
$164K
HurricaneVery Low43.6
$44K
WildfireVery Low29.0
$14K
LandslideLow67.9
$5K

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 Tippecanoe County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Flood1
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Mar 29, 1991Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Show all 12
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 562 storm reports in Tippecanoe County since 1953, with 4 deaths and 98 injuries and about $21 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 26, 1994 near Lafayette.

55tornadoes
132hail reports, largest 4 inches
301damaging thunderstorm winds
69floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 26, 1994F4Lafayette70 / 3
Mar 20, 1976F4–6 / 0
Apr 11, 1965F4–10 / 0
Nov 17, 2013EF3North Crane0 / 0
Jun 25, 1978F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 26, 1994TornadoLafayette$5M
May 18, 2000HailRomney$5M
Mar 20, 1976Tornado–$3M
May 30, 2004TornadoDayton$1M
Nov 17, 2013TornadoNorth Crane$750K
Mar 31, 2023Thunderstorm WindOctagon$700K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 16, 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 Tippecanoe County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (177 policies)
18%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.2 millionpaid on 218 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $872,485 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 Tippecanoe County

$239,300median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.5%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; 80,647 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
Montgomery CountyVery Low19
Clinton CountyVery Low14
White CountyVery Low16
Carroll CountyVery Low16
Fountain CountyVery Low11
Benton CountyVery Low19
Warren CountyVery Low17

Cities in Tippecanoe County

Common questions about Tippecanoe County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tippecanoe County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tippecanoe County, about $20.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $13.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Tippecanoe County had?

Tippecanoe County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Tippecanoe County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 9th 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 Tippecanoe County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Tippecanoe 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 Tippecanoe County had?

NOAA records list 55 tornadoes in Tippecanoe County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 26, 1994 near Lafayette. The weather service has also logged 132 hail reports and 69 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.