Morgan County, Indiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 63th
Morgan County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 63.5, 63th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $27M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Morgan County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 63.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 63rd 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 Morgan 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 0.29 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 4.77 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $240K in expected annual loss and about 9.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $27M in expected annual loss for a population of 72K.
Beyond physical exposure, Morgan 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: Morgan County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1991, including 9 for severe storm events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 92 Indiana counties, Morgan County ranks #25 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.29 / yr | $33K |
| Strong Wind | High | 4.77 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 9.11 / yr | $240K |
| Hail | Medium | 4.11 / yr | $975K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.31 / yr | $4M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.21 / yr | $15M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.63 / yr | $762K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.68 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.63 / yr | $123K |
| Drought | Low | 2.29 / yr | $214K |
| Lightning | Low | 49.59 / yr | $245K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $11K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / 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
Morgan County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1991, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (9), Flood (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| July 2025 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| June 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| January 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Morgan County?
Morgan County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 63.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 63th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Morgan County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $33K EAL), Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $240K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Morgan County compare to other Indiana counties?
Morgan County ranks #25 of 92 Indiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Morgan County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Morgan County since 1991, most often 9 for severe storm events and 3 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. Morgan County's $27M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.