Natural Disasters in Indiana: History & Risk Data
55,569 recorded disaster events across 752 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in Indiana
📊 Indiana Disaster Profile
With 55,569 recorded natural disaster events across 752 ZIP codes, Indiana carries a substantial history of natural hazard activity. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $33.6B. A total of 3,327 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Hailstorms lead Indiana's disaster profile with 28,022 events (50%), causing $573.8M in property damage. Other significant hazards include floods (12,648 events, $13.3B in damages), tornadoes (8,132 events, $18.6B in damages), and severe wind events (3,348 events, $685.8M in damages). Indiana has no recorded hurricanes in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in Indiana include ZIP 47591 (307 events, $149.8M in damages), ZIP 46221 (244 events, $35M in damages), and ZIP 46241 (242 events, $29.9M in damages).
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in Indiana has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 615% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2008 stands out as particularly active, with 3,669 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Indiana
What natural disasters occur in Indiana?
Indiana has experienced 55,569 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (28,022), floods (12,648), tornadoes (8,132), severe wind events (3,348), blizzards (2,141), wildfires (775), extreme cold events (302), earthquakes (108), and extreme heat events (93). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 50% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in Indiana?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Indiana are ZIP 47591 (307 events), ZIP 46221 (244 events), ZIP 46241 (242 events), ZIP 46217 (228 events), and ZIP 47524 (222 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in Indiana?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $33.6B in property damage across Indiana. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →