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Vermillion County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
72nd of 92highest risk in Indiana
$8Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Vermillion County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 72nd of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $489 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 47 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $411,000 on 67 claims here.

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

Top risks in Vermillion County

$3.5 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$783,876 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low33.0
$4M
Cold waveLow61.0
$1M
TornadoLow39.5
$784K
EarthquakeLow65.4
$577K
Strong windLow42.2
$409K
HailLow50.0
$243K
DroughtLow58.6
$241K
Heat waveVery Low38.4
$196K
Winter weatherLow55.3
$72K
LightningVery Low17.0
$54K
Ice stormLow36.8
$43K
HurricaneVery Low29.3
$12K
LandslideVery Low59.8
$2K
WildfireVery Low7.3
$2K

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 4, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Sep 9, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor 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 257 storm reports in Vermillion County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $7.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 22, 1963.

13tornadoes
55hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
113damaging thunderstorm winds
72floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 22, 1963F3–0 / 0
Nov 17, 2013EF2Rileysburg0 / 0
Oct 17, 1988F2–2 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F2–6 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 18, 2000HailCayuga$5M
Nov 17, 2013TornadoRileysburg$300K
Oct 17, 1988Tornado–$250K
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$250K
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$250K
May 7, 2002Flash FloodClinton$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 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 Vermillion County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (47 policies)
14.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$410,642paid on 67 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $243,393 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 Vermillion County

$113,100median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.5%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; 7,337 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
Vigo CountyModerate14
Vermilion County, ILLow10
Edgar County, ILVery Low7
Fountain CountyVery Low11
Parke CountyVery Low18
Warren CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Vermillion County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Vermillion County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Vermillion County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Vermillion County had?

Vermillion County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Vermillion County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 72nd 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 Vermillion County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Vermillion 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 Vermillion County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Vermillion County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 22, 1963. The weather service has also logged 55 hail reports and 72 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.