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White County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
55th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$13Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

White County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 55th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $508 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (119 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.0 million on 237 claims here, including $1.8 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 White County

$6.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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 floodingLow48.6
$7M
Cold waveModerate71.8
$2M
TornadoLow52.5
$1M
Strong windModerate57.5
$709K
HailLow66.6
$506K
EarthquakeLow60.1
$476K
Heat waveLow43.4
$281K
LightningVery Low23.8
$86K
Winter weatherLow37.2
$42K
HurricaneVery Low34.7
$21K
Ice stormVery Low16.3
$11K
WildfireVery Low7.4
$2K
LandslideVery Low39.7
$673
DroughtVery Low14.5
$476

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm3
Flood2
Tornado1
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 15, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 4, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 1999In-Winter Storm 12/23/98Emergency
Mar 29, 1991Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 263 storm reports in White County since 1954, with 10 deaths and 75 injuries and about $5.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

27tornadoes
62hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
151damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–73 / 10
Apr 14, 1968F2–0 / 0
Jun 13, 1958F2–0 / 0
Jul 28, 1961F2–0 / 0
Nov 17, 2013EF2Smithson0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 8, 2008Flash FloodNorway$2M
Mar 11, 2009Flash FloodNorway$1M
Jun 23, 1994Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Apr 30, 1962Tornado–$250K
Apr 14, 1968Tornado–$250K
May 14, 1970Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 White County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (119 policies)
12.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5 millionpaid on 237 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest 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 White County

$175,900median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.7%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; 12,961 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
Tippecanoe CountyModerate12
Cass CountyLow15
Jasper CountyVery Low17
Carroll CountyVery Low16
Pulaski CountyVery Low16
Benton CountyVery Low19

Common questions about White County

What is the biggest natural hazard in White County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in White County, about $6.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.4 million.

How many federal disasters has White County had?

White County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is White County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 55th 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 White County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in White 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 White County had?

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in White County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 62 hail reports and 22 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.