riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Whitley County Disaster Risk

Whitley County, Indiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

25th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#71

of 92 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

34th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 34% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 61% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Whitley County

Risk Verdict

Whitley County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 25th 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 Whitley County, scoring in the 61th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 45th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (34th), hurricane (27th), wildfire (10th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Whitley 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

Whitley County is notably safer than the average county in Indiana. Its composite risk score is 20.9 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 Whitley County, IN?
Whitley County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 25th 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 Whitley County?
Whitley County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (61th percentile), earthquake (45th percentile), flooding (34th percentile), hurricane (27th percentile), wildfire (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 61th 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 Whitley County risk compare to the Indiana average?
Whitley County's composite risk percentile is 25th, compared to the Indiana state average of 46th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Whitley County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Indiana.
Is Whitley County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Whitley County's tornado risk is at the 61th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Whitley County is at the 34th 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 Whitley County a safe place to live?
Whitley County's composite risk score of 25th 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 61th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Starke County

Indiana

+0.3

Very Low

25th percentile

Vermillion County

Indiana

-1.1

Very Low

23th percentile

Crawford County

Indiana

+1.2

Very Low

26th 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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