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Vigo County, Indiana

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$46Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Vigo County, Indiana has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 83% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $46 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $436 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (489 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $17 million on 662 claims here, including $15 million for floods in 2008.

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

Top risks in Vigo County

$24.2 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
$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 280 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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 floodingModerate85.1
$24M
EarthquakeModerate91.4
$6M
Cold waveModerate84.7
$5M
TornadoModerate83.2
$4M
Strong windHigh94.9
$3M
Heat waveModerate83.2
$2M
HailModerate87.2
$1M
Winter weatherHigh92.7
$466K
LightningModerate60.8
$317K
Ice stormModerate72.8
$235K
DroughtLow56.8
$211K
HurricaneVery Low42.4
$33K
WildfireVery Low27.0
$11K
LandslideLow70.5
$6K

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 Vigo County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Show all 14
Sep 9, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 1979Severe 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 478 storm reports in Vigo County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $110 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 22, 1960.

20tornadoes
111hail reports, largest 2 inches
253damaging thunderstorm winds
84floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 22, 1960F3–0 / 0
Oct 17, 1988F2–2 / 0
May 3, 1958F2–0 / 0
Oct 24, 1967F2–1 / 0
Oct 24, 1967F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2008FloodTerre Haute$100M
Jun 29, 2023Thunderstorm WindBelt Jct$2M
Jun 25, 2024Thunderstorm WindBelt Jct$2M
Feb 16, 2006TornadoHulman Fld Tere$2M
Jun 22, 1960Tornado–$250K
Jun 26, 1973Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Vigo County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (489 policies)
24%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$17.4 millionpaid on 662 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $14.9 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 Vigo County

$148,500median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.6%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; 46,891 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
Clay CountyVery Low18
Sullivan CountyVery Low17
Edgar County, ILVery Low7
Parke CountyVery Low18
Vermillion CountyVery Low15
Clark County, ILVery Low8

Cities in Vigo County

Common questions about Vigo County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Vigo County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Vigo County, about $24.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $6.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Vigo County had?

Vigo County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Vigo County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Vigo County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Vigo 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 Vigo County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Vigo County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 22, 1960. The weather service has also logged 111 hail reports and 84 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.