Jay County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Jay County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Jay County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, earthquake, and strong wind, 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. Jay County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1977, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (5), snowstorm (4), flood (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 total declarations since 1977.
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 | 5.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 36.8 | 2 | 0 | $2K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 57 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 16.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 61.7 | 7 | 0 | $650K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 38.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40.9 | 7 | 0 | $4K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 53.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 17.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 44.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 25.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 18.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 23.5 | 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
Jay County ranks in the 46th 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 | 46th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 58th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 57th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 9th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 40th | 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 | 33.0% | — |
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 Jay County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Jay County, Indiana are tornado, earthquake, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Jay County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Jay County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Jay County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Jay County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Jay County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Delaware County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Blackford County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Jay County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Jay County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Jay 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. Jay County's composite score of 23 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 23% of US counties.