Putnam County, Indiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 43th
Putnam County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 42.8, 43th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Putnam County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 42.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 43rd 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.
Risk here concentrates in strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 4.64 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $15K in expected annual loss and about 0.32 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $167K in expected annual loss and about 9.79 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 37K.
Beyond physical exposure, Putnam 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.
History supports the rating: Putnam County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including 12 for severe storm events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 92 Indiana counties, Putnam County ranks #46 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.64 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.32 / yr | $15K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 9.79 / yr | $167K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $799K |
| Hail | Low | 3.91 / yr | $561K |
| Drought | Medium | 2.52 / yr | $418K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.37 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.21 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.58 / yr | $446K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.58 / yr | $101K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.57 / yr | $7M |
| Lightning | Low | 48.34 / yr | $119K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $6K |
| 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
Putnam County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1990, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Biological (2), Snowstorm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| June 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and |
| June 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| March 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Putnam County?
Putnam County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 42.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 43th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Putnam County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Medium, $1M EAL), Landslide (Low, $15K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $167K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Putnam County compare to other Indiana counties?
Putnam County ranks #46 of 92 Indiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Putnam County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Putnam County since 1990, most often 12 for severe storm events and 2 for biological 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. Putnam County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.