Howard County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Howard County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Howard County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, tornado, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 44% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Howard County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1965, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (5), snowstorm (3), 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 |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 total declarations since 1965.
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 | 14.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 64.5 | 7 | 0 | $488K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 77.1 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 69.1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 83.7 | 9 | 0 | $11.3M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 32.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 80.2 | 8 | 0 | $51K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 85.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 76.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 54.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 73.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 51.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 59.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 35.3 | 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
Howard County ranks in the 45th 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 | 45th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 42nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 72nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 46th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 28th | 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 | 21.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 25 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 9 in 2021–25 (-44% — 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 Howard County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Howard County, Indiana are strong wind, tornado, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Howard County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Howard County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Howard County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Howard County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Howard County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Grant County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Tipton County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Howard County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Howard County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Howard 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. Howard County's composite score of 64 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 64% of US counties.