Jefferson County, Indiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 48th
Jefferson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 48.3, 48th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and strong wind 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 Jefferson County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 48.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 48th 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.
Most of Jefferson County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $33K in expected annual loss and about 0.27 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 5.54 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.26 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $16M in expected annual loss for a population of 33K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jefferson County has a low 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). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Jefferson County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 12 for severe storm events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 92 Indiana counties, Jefferson County ranks #35 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.27 / yr | $33K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.54 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.26 / yr | $5M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $515K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.88 / yr | $146K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 3.29 / yr | $8M |
| Lightning | Low | 49.88 / yr | $210K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.42 / yr | $512K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.79 / yr | $166K |
| Drought | Very Low | 3.46 / yr | $25K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 10.53 / yr | $27K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.74 / yr | $79K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $7K |
| 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
Jefferson County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Flood (6), 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 |
| March 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| June 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 48.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 48th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $33K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $2M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson County compare to other Indiana counties?
Jefferson County ranks #35 of 92 Indiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jefferson County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Jefferson County since 1968, most often 12 for severe storm events and 6 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. Jefferson County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.