Benton County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Benton County has experienced 21 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Benton County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, earthquake, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Benton County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1974, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (9), snowstorm (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 total declarations since 1974.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 8.5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 41.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 22.3 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 29.5 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 23.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40.4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 21.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 21.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 10.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 42.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 15.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Benton County ranks in the 34th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 34th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 37th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 91st | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 26th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 7th | Very low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 1st | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 1st | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 27.6% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Benton County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Benton County, Indiana are cold wave, earthquake, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Benton County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Benton County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Benton County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Benton County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Benton County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Tippecanoe County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Warren County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Benton County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Benton County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Benton County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Benton County's composite score of 5 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 5% of US counties.