Clark County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Clark County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Clark County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, tornado, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 68 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Clark County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1974, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (9), flood (5), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 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 | 20.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 81.2 | 26 | 0 | $50K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 84.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 59.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 95.2 | 5 | 0 | $200K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 14.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 44.7 | 36 | 0 | $25K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 97.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 55.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 75.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 78.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 78.6 | 1 | 0 | $30K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 40.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.2 | 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
Clark County ranks in the 31st 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 | 31st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 27th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 42nd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 50th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 34th | 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 | 13th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 11th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 43.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 68 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 36 in 2016–20 vs 32 in 2021–25 (-11% — frequency decreasing).
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 Clark County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Clark County, Indiana are strong wind, tornado, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Clark County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Clark County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Clark County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Clark County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Clark County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Jefferson County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Trimble County, KY has the lowest (Very Low). Clark County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Clark County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Clark 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. Clark County's composite score of 81 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 81% of US counties.