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

Pike County Disaster Risk

Pike County, Indiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

19th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#81

of 92 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

27th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% 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 80% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Pike County, Indiana

Pike County: Exceptionally Low Risk

Pike County's composite risk score of 19.24 ranks it among Indiana's very safest counties, sitting well below the state average of 45.52. This exceptional safety profile offers residents broad protection from natural disasters across nearly all hazard categories.

Bottom-Tier Risk Among Indiana Counties

Pike County ranks near the bottom of Indiana's 92 counties for disaster risk, with one of the state's lowest composite scores. This distinction makes it one of Indiana's most naturally resilient communities against the full range of hazards.

Second-Safest in the Region

Pike County's 19.24 score ranks only behind Ohio (3.37) among surrounding counties, with substantially lower risk than Orange (40.49), Owen (35.11), and Perry (35.02). This positioning establishes Pike as one of the state's true safe havens.

Earthquake Risk Outweighs All Others

Earthquake risk scores 79.64—notably elevated and Pike County's clear biggest concern—despite the county's otherwise exceptional safety profile. All other hazards, from tornado (40.30) to flood (26.84), remain well-controlled and manageable.

Earthquake Insurance Is Your Priority

The 79.64 earthquake risk score stands out sharply against Pike County's otherwise low-risk profile, making seismic coverage the most important policy to evaluate. Standard homeowners insurance should suffice for tornado and flood protection given the modest scores in those categories.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Pike County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    EarthquakePrepare
    80th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    40th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    27th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Pike County

Risk Verdict

At the 19th percentile nationally, Pike County experiences relatively limited natural hazard pressure compared to most of the country. A 19th percentile score positions Pike County among the nation's lower-risk counties, a genuinely favorable outcome — one that simple, low-cost preparedness habits can reinforce further.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is Pike County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 80th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 40th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (27th percentile), hurricane (24th percentile), wildfire (12th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Pike County ranks at the 80th percentile nationally for earthquake risk. Unlike most natural hazards, earthquakes provide no advance warning; preparedness here means structural adjustments and a practiced response, not alert monitoring. Tornado at the 40th percentile nationally is a separate hazard dimension for Pike County that requires different protective strategies from earthquake preparedness. For earthquake preparedness, Pike County's county emergency management office often maintains a list of community water supply points, Red Cross shelter locations, and post-quake assistance programs — useful resources to identify before an event occurs.

Regional Context

A composite score 26.3 points below the Indiana state average puts Pike County in a better-than-typical position relative to neighboring counties.

Is your household prepared for Pike 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 Pike County, IN?
Pike County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 19th 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 Pike County?
Pike County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (80th percentile), tornado (40th percentile), flooding (27th percentile), hurricane (24th percentile), wildfire (12th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 80th 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 Pike County risk compare to the Indiana average?
Pike County's composite risk percentile is 19th, compared to the Indiana state average of 46th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Pike County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Indiana.
Is Pike County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Pike County's earthquake risk is at the 80th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Pike County is at the 27th 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 Pike County a safe place to live?
Pike County's composite risk score of 19th 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 80th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Brown County

Indiana

+0.4

Very Low

20th percentile

Fulton County

Indiana

+1.0

Very Low

20th percentile

Sullivan County

Indiana

+1.4

Very Low

21th percentile

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.

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