Jay County

Indiana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

22.9

National percentile: 23th

Jay County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 22.9, 23th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $8M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 20K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Tornado
Low $2M/yr
Earthquake
Very Low $379K/yr
Strong Wind
Medium $582K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Tornado Low 0.28 / yr $2M
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $379K
Strong Wind Medium 4.24 / yr $582K
Ice Storm Low 0.72 / yr $64K
Hail Low 4.00 / yr $178K
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $26K
Riverine Flood Low 0.54 / yr $4M
Cold Wave Low 3.68 / yr $324K
Landslide Very Low 0.06 / yr $161
Lightning Very Low 43.09 / yr $59K
Winter Weather Very Low 10.05 / yr $14K
Heat Wave Very Low 5.05 / yr $42K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $2K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Drought Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jay County?

Jay County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 22.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 23th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Jay County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Low, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $379K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $582K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Jay County compare to other Indiana counties?

Jay County ranks #74 of 92 Indiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

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. Jay County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.