Wells County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Wells 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 75th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $9.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $342 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 37 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $757,000 on 42 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Wells County
- 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 37.7 | $5M | ||
| Tornado | 59.1 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 50.8 | $684K | ||
| Heat wave | 47.8 | $410K | ||
| Cold wave | 25.1 | $396K | ||
| Earthquake | 49.8 | $332K | ||
| Hail | 33.7 | $168K | ||
| Lightning | 19.1 | $79K | ||
| Drought | 39.7 | $77K | ||
| Ice storm | 19.7 | $19K | ||
| Hurricane | 26.5 | $13K | ||
| Winter weather | 12.0 | $12K | ||
| Wildfire | 5.0 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 21.8 | $171 |
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 Wells County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 13
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 245 storm reports in Wells County since 1955, with 1 death and 44 injuries and about $29.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1965 | F4 | – | 38 / 1 |
| May 27, 2019 | EF3 | Mc Natts | 2 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 21, 1967 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 1956 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1965 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 16, 1982 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 22, 1998 | Flash Flood | Bluffton | $250K |
| Jun 9, 2008 | Lightning | Bluffton | $250K |
| Jun 11, 1998 | Tornado | Poneto | $150K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 16, 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 Wells County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Wells County
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; 12,074 housing units.
Compare in Indiana
All 92 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County | Inland flooding | |
| Lake County | Inland flooding | |
| Allen County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Joseph County | Inland flooding | |
| Elkhart County | Inland flooding | |
| Tippecanoe County | Inland flooding | |
| Vanderburgh County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Allen County | 16 | |
| Grant County | 20 | |
| Huntington County | 13 | |
| Adams County | 15 | |
| Jay County | 14 | |
| Blackford County | 15 |
Common questions about Wells County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Wells County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wells County, about $5.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Wells County had?
Wells County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Wells County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 75th 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 Wells County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Wells 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 Wells County had?
NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Wells County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 79 hail reports and 11 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.