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Vanderburgh County, Indiana

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
3rd of 92highest risk in Indiana
$96Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Vanderburgh County, Indiana has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 91% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $96 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $535 per resident. Since 1991 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (461 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.5 million on 821 claims here.

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

Top risks in Vanderburgh County

$35.9 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$31.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 160 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$12.8 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate89.8
$36M
EarthquakeModerate97.2
$32M
TornadoHigh95.9
$13M
Cold waveModerate86.0
$5M
Heat waveModerate93.4
$4M
Strong windHigh95.9
$3M
Ice stormHigh92.5
$1M
HailModerate82.9
$983K
Winter weatherHigh95.8
$740K
LightningModerate79.9
$682K
DroughtLow52.8
$167K
HurricaneVery Low42.8
$36K
WildfireVery Low31.2
$14K
LandslideVery Low22.9
$147

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 moderate 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 Vanderburgh County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood3
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Tornado1
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
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 6, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 8, 2005Tornado and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 18
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 6, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 538 storm reports in Vanderburgh County since 1955, with 22 deaths and 215 injuries and about $66.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 6, 2005 near Evansville.

32tornadoes
94hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
233damaging thunderstorm winds
135floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 6, 2005F3Evansville200 / 20
Nov 15, 1955F3–9 / 0
Nov 6, 2005F3Cypress0 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF2Martin0 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF2St Wendells0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 9, 2014Thunderstorm WindHowell$35M
Nov 6, 2005TornadoEvansville$15M
Sep 12, 2006Flash FloodEvansville$2M
May 30, 2004TornadoDarmstadt$1M
May 1, 2011FloodSmythe$1M
Apr 2, 2024Thunderstorm WindSt Joseph$850K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Nov 18, 2025. 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 Vanderburgh County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (461 policies)
10%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.5 millionpaid on 821 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $1.8 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 Vanderburgh County

$184,000median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
63%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; 85,319 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
Warrick CountyLow18
Henderson County, KYLow22
Gibson CountyLow20
Posey CountyLow17

Cities in Vanderburgh County

Common questions about Vanderburgh County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Vanderburgh County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Vanderburgh County, about $35.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $31.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Vanderburgh County had?

Vanderburgh County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1991, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Vanderburgh County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 3rd 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 Vanderburgh County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Vanderburgh 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 Vanderburgh County had?

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Vanderburgh County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 6, 2005 near Evansville. The weather service has also logged 94 hail reports and 135 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.