Newton County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Newton County has experienced 19 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.
Newton County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, earthquake, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 23 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. Newton County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1977, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (7), 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 |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 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 | 10.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 19.3 | 5 | 0 | $1K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 44.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 27.6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 32.5 | 7 | 2 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 16.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 38.8 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 33 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 12.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 60.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 10 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 28.8 | 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
Newton County ranks in the 32nd 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 | 32nd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 57th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 73rd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 34th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 2nd | 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 | 11th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 11th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 47.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 23 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 12 in 2016–20 vs 11 in 2021–25 (-8% — relatively stable).
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 Newton County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Newton 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 Newton County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Newton County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Newton County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Newton 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 Newton County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lake County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Benton County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Newton County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Newton County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Newton 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. Newton County's composite score of 12 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 12% of US counties.