Starke County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Starke County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Starke County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, tornado, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (28th 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. Starke County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1965, covering 7 disaster types including flood (4), snowstorm (4), severe storm (4).
| 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 |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 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 | 13.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 27.5 | 1 | 0 | $1.2M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 41.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 35.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 59.7 | 3 | 0 | $45K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 21.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 24.3 | 15 | 0 | $12K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 57.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 33.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 17.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 70.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 32.3 | 1 | 0 | $75K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 27.3 | 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
Starke County ranks in the 28th 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 | 28th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 47th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 44th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 21st | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 14th | 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 | 9th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 9th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 60.8% | — |
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 Starke County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Starke County, Indiana are cold wave, tornado, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Starke County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Starke County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is flood (4 declarations).
Has Starke County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Starke 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 1965.
How does Starke County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, St. Joseph County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Pulaski County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Starke County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Starke County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Starke 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. Starke County's composite score of 25 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 25% of US counties.