riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Decatur County Disaster Risk

Decatur County, Indiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

23th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#73

of 92 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

37th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 37% 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

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 59% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 19% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Decatur County

Risk Verdict

Decatur County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 23th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Decatur County, scoring in the 60th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 59th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (37th), hurricane (19th), wildfire (7th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Decatur County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as earthquake 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

Decatur County is notably safer than the average county in Indiana. Its composite risk score is 22.4 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Decatur County, IN?
Decatur County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 23th 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 Decatur County?
Decatur County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (60th percentile), earthquake (59th percentile), flooding (37th percentile), hurricane (19th percentile), wildfire (7th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 60th 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 Decatur County risk compare to the Indiana average?
Decatur County's composite risk percentile is 23th, compared to the Indiana state average of 46th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Decatur County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Indiana.
Is Decatur County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Decatur County's tornado risk is at the 60th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Decatur County is at the 37th 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 Decatur County a safe place to live?
Decatur County's composite risk score of 23th 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 tornado at the 60th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Jay County

Indiana

-0.3

Very Low

23th percentile

Wells County

Indiana

-0.3

Very Low

23th percentile

Vermillion County

Indiana

+0.3

Very Low

23th 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.

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