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Tipton County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
88th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$7Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 59homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tipton County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 91% of US counties. It ranks 88th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $451 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 59 homes here carry federal flood insurance (126 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 115 claims here, including $1.2 million for floods in 2013.

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

Top risks in Tipton County

$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.
$511,125 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low18.9
$4M
TornadoLow42.2
$1M
Cold waveLow25.2
$511K
Strong windLow24.7
$363K
EarthquakeVery Low45.3
$327K
DroughtLow49.5
$218K
HailVery Low33.8
$216K
Heat waveVery Low28.5
$192K
Winter weatherVery Low24.5
$35K
Ice stormVery Low20.3
$26K
LightningVery Low4.5
$23K
HurricaneVery Low14.2
$5K
WildfireVery Low1.4
$901
LandslideVery Low9.4
$38

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 very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Tipton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Flood4
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor 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
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Mar 29, 1991Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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 157 storm reports in Tipton County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 13 injuries and about $9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 9, 1953.

14tornadoes
36hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
90damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 9, 1953F3–6 / 1
Jun 7, 1980F2–5 / 1
Mar 6, 1956F2–0 / 0
Jun 6, 1965F2–0 / 0
Jun 8, 1958F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 5, 2003Flash FloodWindfall$5M
Apr 9, 1953Tornado–$3M
Apr 18, 1975Tornado–$250K
Jun 1, 1980Tornado–$250K
Mar 26, 2026Thunderstorm WindGoldsmith$150K
Jun 4, 2002Thunderstorm WindTipton$100K

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 Tipton County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (126 policies)
21.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 115 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $1.2 million 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 Tipton County

$174,600median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1965median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3%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; 6,845 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
Hamilton CountyModerate19
Madison CountyLow21
Howard CountyLow13
Grant CountyLow20
Clinton CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Tipton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tipton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tipton County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Tipton County had?

Tipton County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Tipton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 88th 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 Tipton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 59 homes in Tipton 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 Tipton County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Tipton County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 9, 1953. The weather service has also logged 36 hail reports and 17 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.