Brown County, Indiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 20th
Brown County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.7, 20th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Brown County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 19.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 20th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Brown County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $229K in expected annual loss and about 0.62 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $2K in expected annual loss and about 0.82 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.23 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 15K.
Beyond physical exposure, Brown County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Brown County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 8 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 92 Indiana counties, Brown County ranks #80 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.62 / yr | $229K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.82 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.23 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.96 / yr | $426K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $165K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 8.47 / yr | $41K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.86 / yr | $4M |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 5.37 / yr | $151K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.07 / yr | $79K |
| Drought | Very Low | 3.57 / yr | $4K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 50.07 / yr | $65K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.74 / yr | $169K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $295 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Brown County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (8), Flood (4), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| July 2025 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| January 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| June 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Brown County?
Brown County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 20th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Brown County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Medium, $229K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL), Tornado (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Brown County compare to other Indiana counties?
Brown County ranks #80 of 92 Indiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Brown County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Brown County since 1968, most often 8 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Brown County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.