Steuben County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Steuben County has experienced 12 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.
Steuben County's highest-rated hazards are hail, strong wind, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 33 storm events in the county over the past decade. 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. Steuben County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1965, covering 7 disaster types including snowstorm (4), biological (2), tornado (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1999 | Snowstorm | In-Winter Storm 12/23/98 |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1991 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 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 | 12.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 38.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 44.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 27 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 60.4 | 6 | 0 | $200K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 28.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 66.6 | 26 | 0 | $112K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 63.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 24.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 39 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 39.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 38.7 | 1 | 0 | $8K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 52.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 56.8 | 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
Steuben 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 | 23rd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 5th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 18th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 46th | 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 | 6th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 6th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 49.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 33 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 17 in 2021–25 (+6% — 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 Steuben County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Steuben County, Indiana are hail, strong wind, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Steuben County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Steuben County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is snowstorm (4 declarations).
Has Steuben County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Steuben County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Steuben County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, LaGrange County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and DeKalb County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Steuben County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Steuben County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Steuben 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. Steuben County's composite score of 27 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 27% of US counties.