Crawford County, Indiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 26th
Crawford County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 25.8, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Crawford County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 25.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 26th 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 Crawford County's expected losses come from 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; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $1K in expected annual loss and about 0.79 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $224K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 11K.
Beyond physical exposure, Crawford County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Crawford County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 11 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, Crawford County ranks #69 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Low | 0.23 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.79 / yr | $1K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $224K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 5.71 / yr | $390K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 9.47 / yr | $41K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.89 / yr | $187K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.68 / yr | $42K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.71 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.50 / yr | $82K |
| Drought | Very Low | 3.70 / yr | $12K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.32 / yr | $222K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 51.00 / yr | $55K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| 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
Crawford County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), 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 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| May 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| June 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and |
| March 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Crawford County?
Crawford County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 25.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Crawford County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Low, $1M EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $1K EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $224K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Crawford County compare to other Indiana counties?
Crawford County ranks #69 of 92 Indiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Crawford County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Crawford County since 1974, most often 11 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. Crawford County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.