Wells County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Wells County has experienced 15 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.
Wells County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, strong wind, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 60% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (5th 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. Wells County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1965, covering 8 disaster types including snowstorm (4), severe storm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1999 | Snowstorm | In-Winter Storm 12/23/98 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 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 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 37.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 49.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 47.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 59.1 | 3 | 0 | $50K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 26.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 33.7 | 25 | 0 | $138K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 50.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 12 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 19.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 25.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 19.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 39.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 21.8 | 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
Wells County ranks in the 5th 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 | 5th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 6th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 29th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 15th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 9th | 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 | 1st | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 1st | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 33.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 26 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 10 in 2016–20 vs 16 in 2021–25 (+60% — frequency increasing).
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 Wells County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Wells County, Indiana are tornado, strong wind, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Wells County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Wells County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is snowstorm (4 declarations).
Has Wells County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Wells County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Wells County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Allen County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Blackford County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Wells County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Wells County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Wells 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. Wells County's composite score of 23 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 23% of US counties.