riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

LaGrange County Disaster Risk

LaGrange County, Indiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

62th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#26

of 92 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

66th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 81% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 61% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 49% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in LaGrange County, Indiana

LaGrange County above state average

LaGrange County's composite risk score of 62.40 rates as relatively low but exceeds Indiana's state average of 45.52 by 16.88 points. The county faces scattered but genuine hazard exposure across multiple natural disaster categories.

Upper-middle risk in Indiana

LaGrange County ranks in the upper-middle of Indiana's risk distribution at 62.40, performing better than Johnson County (74.65) but substantially higher than Lawrence County (47.77). Its position reflects notable but not extreme vulnerability within the state.

Elevated compared to southern peers

LaGrange County (62.40) faces higher risk than Kosciusko County (66.32) directly to the south, but shares similar tornado and earthquake concerns as a northern Indiana community. Compared to rural southern counties, LaGrange experiences notably elevated disaster vulnerability.

Tornadoes and flooding top concerns

Tornado risk at 80.85 represents LaGrange County's primary threat, while flooding at 65.62 serves as the second major hazard. Hurricane risk at 48.60—the highest among all county hazards—reflects tropical system exposure that rivals tornado danger.

Bundle tornado and flood coverage

LaGrange County homeowners should obtain comprehensive policies covering tornado, hail, and wind damage, given the 80.85 tornado score and significant rainfall patterns. Flood insurance is equally critical, particularly if your home sits near drainage basins or flood-prone areas, given the 65.62 flood risk.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in LaGrange County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    TornadoPrepare
    81th percentile
  2. #2
    FloodPrepare
    66th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    61th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Risk Advisory: LaGrange County

Risk Verdict

LaGrange County sits below the national average for natural disaster exposure, ranking at the 62th percentile across all U.S. counties. Understanding the specific hazards behind LaGrange County's ranking helps residents prioritize where to direct emergency planning efforts.

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado risk is LaGrange County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 81th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 66th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (61th percentile), hurricane (49th percentile), wildfire (30th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Ranked at the 81th percentile nationally for tornado risk, LaGrange County is in a zone where storm shelters have the highest per-dollar protective value of any mitigation investment. LaGrange County's county shelter map is typically available through the local emergency management office. The secondary flood hazard at the 66th percentile nationally adds seasonal complexity to LaGrange County's preparedness calendar, since flood and tornado risk often peak at different points in the year. LaGrange County residents can check the county's emergency management website for community shelter locations nearest their address — a step worth completing now, not during a warning.

Regional Context

A composite score 16.9 points above the Indiana state average puts LaGrange County in a higher-risk category than most counties in the state.

Is your household prepared for LaGrange County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in LaGrange County, IN?
LaGrange County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 62th 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 LaGrange County?
LaGrange County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (81th percentile), flooding (66th percentile), earthquake (61th percentile), hurricane (49th percentile), wildfire (30th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 81th 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 LaGrange County risk compare to the Indiana average?
LaGrange County's composite risk percentile is 62th, compared to the Indiana state average of 46th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means LaGrange County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Indiana.
Is LaGrange County at risk for tornado?
Yes, LaGrange County's tornado risk is at the 81th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, LaGrange County is at the 66th 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.
Why is LaGrange County higher risk than average?
LaGrange County's composite risk score of 62th percentile is above the Indiana state average of 46th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by tornado exposure (81th percentile), along with flooding and earthquake risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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.