Cass County, Indiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 57th
Cass County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 56.8, 57th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Cass County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 56.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 57th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 5.22 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $583K in expected annual loss and about 3.94 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 4.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $16M in expected annual loss for a population of 38K.
Beyond physical exposure, Cass County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Cass County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 4 for severe storm events and 4 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 92 Indiana counties, Cass County ranks #29 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | High | 5.22 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Medium | 3.94 / yr | $583K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 4.11 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 1.94 / yr | $404K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.54 / yr | $8M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.16 / yr | $546K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $422K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 9.21 / yr | $79K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.30 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $1K |
| Lightning | Low | 44.15 / yr | $150K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $15K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.89 / yr | $23K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $3K |
| 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
Cass County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (4), Snowstorm (4), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| January 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| March 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| June 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| July 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| January 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cass County?
Cass County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 56.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 57th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cass County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL), Hail (Medium, $583K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cass County compare to other Indiana counties?
Cass County ranks #29 of 92 Indiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cass County had?
FEMA records 15 federal disaster declarations for Cass County since 1965, most often 4 for severe storm events and 4 for snowstorm 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. Cass County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.