Ohio County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Ohio County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Ohio County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, strong wind, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (17th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Ohio County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1968, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (10), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1968.
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 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 7.8 | 5 | 0 | $55K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 25.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 11.8 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 34.5 | 4 | 0 | $140K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 7.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 43.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 5.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 18.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 19.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 13 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 22.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 82.9 | 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
Ohio County ranks in the 17th percentile (Very 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 | 17th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 9th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 40th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 6th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 48th | 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 | 17th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 15th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 75.4% | — |
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 Ohio County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Ohio County, Indiana are landslide, strong wind, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Ohio County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Ohio County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Ohio County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Ohio County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1968.
How does Ohio County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Boone County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Switzerland County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Ohio County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Ohio County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Ohio 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. Ohio County's composite score of 3 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 3% of US counties.