Vermillion County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Vermillion County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1979, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Vermillion County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, cold wave, and landslide, 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. Vermillion County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1979, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (7), 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 |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 total declarations since 1979.
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 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 33 | 3 | 0 | $4K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 65.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 38.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 39.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 29.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 50 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 42.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 55.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 36.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 61 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 17 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 58.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 59.8 | 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
Vermillion County ranks in the 39th 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 | 39th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 38th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 76th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 3rd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 36th | 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 | 7th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 8th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 44.0% | — |
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 Vermillion County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Vermillion County, Indiana are earthquake, cold wave, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Vermillion County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Vermillion County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1979, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Vermillion County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Vermillion County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1979.
How does Vermillion County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Vigo County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Fountain County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Vermillion County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Vermillion County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Vermillion 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. Vermillion County's composite score of 23 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 23% of US counties.