Fayette County, Indiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 33th
Fayette County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 33.5, 33th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Fayette County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 33.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 33rd 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.15 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $4K in expected annual loss and about 0.09 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $663K in expected annual loss and about 4.12 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 23K.
Beyond physical exposure, Fayette 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.
History supports the rating: Fayette County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 4 for severe storm events and 3 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 92 Indiana counties, Fayette County ranks #60 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.09 / yr | $4K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.12 / yr | $663K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $242K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.71 / yr | $6M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.87 / yr | $49K |
| Hail | Low | 4.49 / yr | $156K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.16 / yr | $491K |
| Drought | Low | 1.10 / yr | $33K |
| Lightning | Low | 46.58 / yr | $104K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 5.37 / yr | $100K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 10.95 / yr | $19K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1K |
| 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
Fayette County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (4), Snowstorm (3), Flood (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| January 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| September 2002 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| January 1999 | Snowstorm | In-Winter Storm 12/23/98 |
| July 1998 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and Flooding |
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 Fayette County?
Fayette County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 33.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 33th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Fayette County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL), Landslide (Low, $4K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $663K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Fayette County compare to other Indiana counties?
Fayette County ranks #60 of 92 Indiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Fayette County had?
FEMA records 15 federal disaster declarations for Fayette County since 1968, most often 4 for severe storm events and 3 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. Fayette County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.