riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Boone County Disaster Risk

Boone County, Indiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

43th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#45

of 92 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

57th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 57% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 7% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 14% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Boone County

Risk Verdict

Boone County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 43th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Boone County, scoring in the 68th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 57th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (40th), hurricane (14th), wildfire (7th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Boone County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Boone County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Indiana. Its composite risk score is within 2.3 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Indiana as a whole.

Is your home insured against Boone County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Boone County, IN?
Boone County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 43th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Boone County?
Boone County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (68th percentile), flooding (57th percentile), tornado (40th percentile), hurricane (14th percentile), wildfire (7th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 68th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Boone County risk compare to the Indiana average?
Boone County's composite risk percentile is 43th, compared to the Indiana state average of 46th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Boone County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Indiana.
Is Boone County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Boone County's earthquake risk is at the 68th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Boone County is at the 57th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Boone County a safe place to live?
Boone County's composite risk score of 43th percentile is below the Indiana state average of 46th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is earthquake at the 68th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Shelby County

Indiana

+0.2

Relatively Low

43th percentile

Putnam County

Indiana

-0.4

Relatively Low

43th percentile

Greene County

Indiana

-0.7

Very Low

42th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

Explore more data for Boone County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score