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Washington County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
52nd of 92highest risk in Indiana
$13Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Washington County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $457 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.7 million on 58 claims here, including $1.2 million for floods in 2004.

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

Top risks in Washington County

$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.4
$6M
TornadoModerate77.3
$3M
Strong windModerate71.7
$1M
Cold waveLow42.4
$724K
EarthquakeLow67.8
$704K
Heat waveLow44.7
$289K
DroughtLow55.9
$220K
LightningLow36.3
$141K
Winter weatherModerate62.8
$100K
HailVery Low15.9
$55K
Ice stormLow38.1
$49K
HurricaneVery Low20.9
$6K
WildfireVery Low10.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low32.7
$381

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2012Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Mar 5, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Aug 17, 1992Severe Storms & Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor 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 320 storm reports in Washington County since 1956, with 9 deaths and 26 injuries and about $18.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974.

34tornadoes
52hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
169damaging thunderstorm winds
62floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F5–12 / 1
Mar 2, 2012EF4Freddricksburg0 / 5
Jun 2, 1990F3–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1956F2–12 / 0
Apr 5, 1985F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 18, 2008FloodFreddricksburg$3M
Apr 3, 1956Tornado–$3M
Apr 5, 1985Tornado–$3M
Mar 10, 1986Tornado–$3M
Mar 2, 2012TornadoFreddricksburg$2M
May 27, 2004TornadoSalem$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Washington County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
2.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.7 millionpaid on 58 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest 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 Washington County

$172,200median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.9%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; 12,222 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
Clark CountyModerate18
Floyd CountyLow15
Jackson CountyLow15
Lawrence CountyLow19
Harrison CountyLow20
Scott CountyVery Low15
Orange CountyVery Low17
Crawford CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Washington County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Washington County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Washington County, about $6.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Washington County had?

Washington County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Washington County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 52nd 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 Washington County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Washington 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 Washington County had?

NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Washington County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 52 hail reports and 62 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.