Indiana Local Risk Guide
Indiana local risk and household disruption guide.
What can go wrong where you live in Indiana, which season deserves your attention, and how your household stays functional when systems around it do not.
Last reviewed September 2026
By Dan Whelan, founder of New World Survival
Researched from government agencies, university extension services, and other published sources. See our sources
Why this page exists
Risk in Indiana is not one thing. It depends on where you are.
Indiana stretches 275 miles from the Lake Michigan shore to the Ohio River bluffs, and the hazards that affect a household change substantially across that distance. A household in Gary prepares for lake-effect snow and severe wind events. A household in Indianapolis prepares for tornadoes and urban flash flooding. A household in Evansville prepares for Ohio River flooding and earthquakes. The preparations overlap, but the priorities do not.
This page helps you identify which hazards and disruptions are locally relevant, understand how risk changes across the state, see which times of year deserve closer attention, and build a household plan around what is actually likely where you live. It focuses on warning systems, household continuity, cascading failures, and recovery. For land, water rights, growing conditions, and property due diligence, see the main Indiana guide.
Related guide
Choosing land or comparing places in Indiana? The main Indiana land and self-reliance guide covers the statewide score, five land-search regions, water law, cottage food and right-to-farm rules, growing conditions, the true cost of raw land, a parcel checklist, and insurance. This Local Risk guide focuses on warning systems, household disruption, continuity, and recovery.
Start here
Identify your local jurisdiction and forecast office.
Indiana has 92 counties. Emergency management, alert enrollment, and many hazard-specific services are organized at the county level. Knowing your county and the National Weather Service office that covers it is the starting point for every other decision on this page.
Find your county emergency management
Contact the Indiana Department of Homeland Security or check their directory for your county emergency management office and local alert enrollment.
Indiana DHS emergency managementFind your NWS forecast office
Enter your address at weather.gov to find which NWS office issues warnings for your area. Indiana is covered by two in-state offices and four out-of-state offices for border counties.
National Weather ServiceNWS offices serving Indiana
Statewide baseline
Ten preparations that address several Indiana hazards at once.
Regardless of where in Indiana you live, these preparations reduce household disruption across multiple hazard types. Each connects to risks documented elsewhere on this page.
Redundant warning reception
Tornadoes, flooding, severe storms, and winter storms all arrive with NWS warnings. A household that relies on a single method (outdoor sirens, phone, or TV) has a single point of failure. Maintain at least two independent methods: NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup plus Wireless Emergency Alerts on at least one phone. County alert enrollment adds a third.
Tornado shelter plan
Indiana averages 22 tornadoes per year. Every household member should know where to shelter at home, at work, at school, and while traveling. A basement or FEMA-rated safe room is the safest option. Interior rooms on the lowest floor are the next best. Manufactured homes offer no tornado protection without a community shelter or anchored safe room.
Severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and winter storms can interrupt municipal water supply or disable a private well pump. Store at least one gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days. Rural households on private wells should plan for longer: severe wind events and ice storms have left Indiana communities without power for over a week.
Backup lighting and device charging
Extended power outages are the common thread across most Indiana hazards. Battery-powered lighting and a way to charge phones (portable battery bank, vehicle charger, or small solar panel) keep the household functional and maintain access to warnings during outages.
Backup heat source (if electric-only heating)
Ice storms and severe winter weather regularly produce multi-day outages in Indiana. A household that heats with electricity alone has no warmth when the grid fails in January. Identify and test a backup before winter: a wood stove, a vented propane heater, or a plan to relocate to a heated shelter.
Household communication and reunification plan
Tornadoes and severe storms can occur while family members are at work, school, or in transit. Set a communication plan before the event: who calls whom, which out-of-area contact relays information, and where the household reassembles if home is unreachable.
Medication continuity
Extended outages interrupt refrigerated medications. Displacement after a tornado or flood separates people from pharmacies. Keep a current medication list, maintain a two-week supply when possible, and store copies of prescriptions with other critical documents.
Route awareness and flood-zone verification
Check whether your home and your regular travel routes cross a mapped flood hazard area. Indiana's flat, tile-drained farmland can pond extensively after saturating rain, and southern Indiana's karst terrain channels flash floods through narrow valleys. Learn which bridges and low crossings on your routes are flood-prone.
Insurance review
Standard homeowner and renter policies exclude flood damage. Earthquake coverage is a separate rider. Hail and wind deductibles vary. Review your policy before the event season. A real address-specific quote for flood and earthquake coverage belongs in your financial planning, not your post-disaster recovery.
Critical documents in a portable location
Insurance policies, identification, prescriptions, and financial records are difficult to reconstruct after displacement. Keep copies in a grab-and-go location and a second set in cloud storage or with a trusted person outside your area.
Hazard profile
What can happen, where it matters, and your first decision.
Each row connects a hazard to the household disruption it causes and the planning decision it requires. The "Full guide" column links to the national hazard page with detailed before, during, and after protocols.
| Hazard | Where it matters | Higher-attention period | Warning character | Likely household disruption | First planning decision | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornadoes | Statewide; highest frequency in central and southern Indiana | April through June; secondary activity possible in November | Minutes to tens of minutes via NWS tornado warning | Structural damage, power loss, displacement, road closures, injury | Where is your tornado shelter at each location (home, work, school, travel)? | Tornado guide → |
| Severe storms, hail, and derechos | Statewide; flat terrain allows storms to maintain intensity across the state | April through October | Severe thunderstorm warnings 15 to 60 minutes via NWS | Roof and vehicle damage, widespread power outages, downed trees, road hazards | Does your insurance have a separate hail or wind deductible? Can you shelter vehicles? | Severe storm guide → |
| River and flash flooding | Ohio, Wabash, White, and Tippecanoe river corridors; karst valleys in southern Indiana; urban streams in Indianapolis | Spring through early summer for river flooding; flash floods year-round after heavy rain | River floods: hours to days. Flash floods: minutes to hours. | Road closures, property damage, displacement, contaminated water, agricultural loss | Is your home in a mapped flood hazard area? Do your regular routes cross flood-prone bridges or low spots? | Flood guide → |
| Winter storms and ice storms | Ice storms most severe in central and southern Indiana; blizzards and extreme cold statewide | December through February | Winter storm watches 12 to 48 hours in advance; winter storm warnings when imminent | Extended power outages (days to weeks), road closures, heating loss, water supply interruption, rural isolation | If the power is out for a week in January, how does your household stay warm, hydrated, and fed? | Ice storm guide → |
| Lake-effect snow | Northwest Indiana, especially LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, and counties nearest Lake Michigan | November through March | Lake-effect snow warnings via NWS, hours of notice; bands can shift rapidly | Travel paralysis, multi-day road closures, school and business closures, snow load on roofs | Can your household function at home for several days if roads are impassable? | Winter storm guide → |
| Extreme heat | Statewide; most severe in urban areas, especially Indianapolis and Evansville | June through September | NWS heat advisories and excessive heat warnings, hours to days of notice | Heat-related illness, increased energy demand, brownouts, reduced well yields | Can your household cool itself if grid power fails during a heat wave? | Extreme heat guide → |
| Earthquakes (Wabash Valley) | Southwestern Indiana (Evansville area) sits over the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone; shaking from a major event would affect much of the state | No seasonal pattern | No advance warning | Structural damage, utility failure, bridge and road damage, soil liquefaction in alluvial areas | Do you have earthquake insurance? Are heavy items secured? What is your reunification plan if communication fails? | Earthquake guide → |
Operational risk regions
What you prepare for depends on where in Indiana you live.
These five operational regions group counties by shared hazard patterns and household planning needs. They are different from the land-search regions in the main state guide, which are organized around soil, growing conditions, and property markets.
Northwest Indiana and the Lake Michigan Shore
Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Michigan City, Valparaiso, Crown Point, LaPorte
Lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan can drop 2 feet or more in 24 hours. This is Indiana's heaviest snow region. Severe straight-line wind events are intense; in August 2026, storms with 99 mph winds left approximately 300,000 NIPSCO customers without power, some for over two weeks, in the worst outage event in the utility's history. Tornadoes and flooding affect the region as well. The Gary-Hammond corridor faces urban flooding and extreme cold from lake winds.
Three things to verify locally:
- Your NWS office: Chicago (LOT) covers Lake, Porter, Newton, and Jasper counties; Northern Indiana (IWX) covers LaPorte and Starke
- Whether your roof is rated for the snow and wind loads common in this region
- Your county emergency management contact and alert enrollment
Northern Indiana
Fort Wayne, South Bend, Elkhart, Kokomo, Muncie, Marion, Anderson
Tornadoes and severe storms are the primary warm-season hazards. Winter storms bring significant snow, and South Bend averages over 70 inches annually from lake-enhanced snowfall. Ice storms can produce multi-day outages. The region's flat terrain offers no topographic protection from approaching storms. The Wabash, Tippecanoe, and Maumee river systems create localized flood exposure.
Three things to verify locally:
- Your NWS office: Northern Indiana (IWX) for most of the region; Wilmington OH (ILN) for eastern border counties
- Tornado shelter access, especially if you live in a manufactured home
- Flood zone status for any property near rivers, creeks, or tile-drained farmland
Central Indiana and the Indianapolis Region
Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, Terre Haute, Lafayette, Bloomington
Indiana's tornado corridor runs through the central part of the state. The 2012 Henryville tornado (EF-4) killed 11 people in Clark and Washington counties. Severe thunderstorms and derechos cause widespread damage. Urban flash flooding in Indianapolis overwhelms aging storm infrastructure. Ice storms are a significant winter hazard, and central Indiana sits in the transition zone where both heavy snow and freezing rain are common.
Three things to verify locally:
- Tornado shelter plan for every household member at every regular location
- Your county emergency management contact and NWS office (IND for most)
- Flash flood exposure for properties in urban creek corridors or near White River and its tributaries
Southern Indiana Hills and the Ohio River Corridor
New Albany, Jeffersonville, Bedford, Madison, Corydon, Salem
The Ohio River floods regularly. The 1937 Ohio River flood was catastrophic across southern Indiana. The unglaciated hills create narrow valleys where flash floods develop quickly. Ice storms are more common and more severe here than in the north. The hilly terrain can obscure an approaching tornado until it is dangerously close. Karst geology means sinkholes, sinking streams, and unreliable groundwater in some areas. Three F5 tornadoes struck far southern Indiana during the April 1974 Super Outbreak.
Three things to verify locally:
- Ohio River flood zone status for any property near the river corridor
- Whether karst features (sinkholes, springs, caves) affect your property or water supply
- Backup heat and water plan for extended ice-storm outages
Southwestern Indiana and the Wabash Valley
Evansville, Terre Haute (hazard overlap), Vincennes, Princeton, Jasper
This is the only region in Indiana where earthquakes are a primary planning concern. The Wabash Valley Seismic Zone runs through southwestern Indiana and southeastern Illinois; paleoseismic evidence indicates it is capable of producing magnitude 7.0 earthquakes. A magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Mt. Carmel, Illinois in April 2008 was felt in 28 states. A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck near Evansville in June 2002. Wabash River flooding, tornadoes, and extreme heat are also significant hazards in this region.
Three things to verify locally:
- Whether earthquake insurance is appropriate for your property
- Whether your structure sits on alluvial or sandy soil (liquefaction risk in a major event)
- Flood zone status and evacuation routes away from the Wabash and Ohio river corridors
Seasonal readiness
An Indiana household readiness calendar.
Hazards in Indiana follow rough seasonal patterns, but none are impossible outside their typical window. This calendar identifies higher-attention periods and the household tasks that go with them.
| Period | Higher-attention hazards | Household task |
|---|---|---|
| January – February | Ice storms, blizzards, extreme cold, lake-effect snow (NW) | Verify backup heat, stored water, and generator or battery fuel. Review winter storm kit. Check pipes and outdoor water systems for freeze protection. Monitor road conditions before travel. |
| March | Severe weather season begins; early tornadoes possible; spring river flooding | Test NOAA Weather Radio. Review tornado shelter plan with every household member. Check insurance coverage renewal dates. Clean gutters and check sump pump operation. |
| April – June | Peak tornado and severe storm season; river flooding; flash flooding | Maintain active weather awareness. Restock storm supplies (batteries, water, first aid). Review flood insurance. Avoid driving through standing water on roads. |
| July – August | Extreme heat; drought stress; summer severe storms; flash flooding | Check cooling capability without grid power. Monitor well yields during dry periods. Stay aware of flash flood potential from summer thunderstorms. Check on heat-vulnerable neighbors. |
| September – October | Late-season severe storms; transition to winter preparation | Begin winter preparation. Service heating equipment. Review and restock supplies used during summer. Inspect roof and gutters before winter. |
| November – December | Lake-effect snow begins (NW); ice storms; winter storms; secondary tornado activity possible | Winterize pipes and outdoor water systems. Top off heating fuel. Verify vehicle winter kit. Check backup lighting and charging supplies. |
Cascading disruptions
How one failure leads to the next.
Indiana hazards rarely cause a single isolated problem. Understanding which systems fail together helps a household prepare for the actual disruption, not just the triggering event.
Severe wind event chain (the August 2026 pattern)
Severe thunderstorms with straight-line winds exceeding 90 mph → downed power lines, poles, and transmission structures → massive power outage (hundreds of thousands of customers) → outage extends beyond days into weeks as poles must be replaced, not just repaired → food spoilage, no air conditioning in summer heat → cell towers lose battery backup after 4 to 8 hours → communication loss → fuel stations without backup power cannot pump → generator fuel becomes scarce.
Preparation that reduces the consequence: Portable battery bank and vehicle charger for phone and warning access. Vehicle fuel kept above half. Non-perishable food supply. Cooling plan independent of grid power.
Ice storm chain
Heavy ice accumulation → downed power lines and tree limbs → extended power outage (days to over a week) → electric heating fails → private well pumps stop (no water) → medication refrigeration fails → roads covered in ice and debris → rural communities isolated → fuel and supply delivery interrupted.
Preparation that reduces the consequence: Backup heat source independent of grid power. Stored water. Medication plan. Generator or battery system with fuel for several days. Full pantry before the storm arrives.
River flooding chain
Extended heavy rain or rapid snowmelt → Ohio, Wabash, or White River exceeds flood stage → road and bridge closures isolate communities → municipal water intake contaminated or overwhelmed → boil-water advisory issued → agricultural loss in floodplain → displaced households overwhelm shelter capacity → recovery takes months.
Preparation that reduces the consequence: Flood insurance in place before the event. Stored water and a water treatment method. Evacuation route that avoids flood-prone bridges. Critical documents in portable waterproof storage.
Tornado chain
Tornado strikes populated area → structural damage and displacement → power outage across the damage path → schools and businesses closed → family members separated → debris blocks access for emergency vehicles → insurance claims backlog → temporary housing shortage → community recovery takes years.
Preparation that reduces the consequence: Tornado shelter plan practiced and immediate. Insurance current with adequate coverage. Critical documents portable. Communication plan for family reunification without cell service.
Wabash Valley earthquake chain
Significant earthquake on the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone → structural damage to buildings not designed for seismic loads → utility infrastructure fails (electric, water, gas) → bridge and road damage disrupts travel → soil liquefaction in alluvial areas damages foundations → no advance warning means injuries occur at the moment of the event → mutual-aid resources pulled across state lines → recovery measured in months.
Preparation that reduces the consequence: Earthquake insurance. Heavy items secured to walls. Family reunification plan that does not depend on phones or bridges. Water, food, and medication supply for two weeks. Cash on hand.
Household situations
What changes for your household.
Not every household faces Indiana hazards the same way. These overlays identify the specific adjustments that matter most for common living situations. Each answers three questions: what changes, what to verify locally, and what is the first practical improvement.
Manufactured-home residents
What changes: Manufactured homes provide no meaningful protection from tornadoes. Wind damage from severe storms is also more likely. Indiana tornado warnings give minutes of lead time, which is only useful if a shelter is reachable in that time.
Verify locally: Whether a community storm shelter exists within your mobile home park or within a short drive. Whether your county has a shelter registry.
First improvement: Identify the nearest sturdy building or community shelter and time the walk or drive.
Rural private-well households
What changes: When grid power fails, the well pump stops. No pump means no water for drinking, sanitation, or livestock. Extended outages from ice storms or severe wind events have left Indiana communities without power for over a week.
Verify locally: Whether your well can be powered by a generator. What your well yield is during drought. Whether a hand pump or gravity-fed system is feasible.
First improvement: Store enough water to cover household and animal needs for at least five days without the well pump.
Electric-only heat or cooking
What changes: An ice storm or severe wind event that takes out the grid takes out your heat and cooking at the same time. A household with a gas furnace or wood stove has heat without the grid. An all-electric household does not.
Verify locally: Whether a vented propane heater, kerosene heater, or wood stove is a feasible backup. What your landlord permits if you rent.
First improvement: Acquire and test a backup heat source before the first winter storm watch.
Renters and apartment residents
What changes: Renters may have limited control over shelter improvements, window protection, tree maintenance, and backup heating. Tornado shelter access in apartment complexes varies widely.
Verify locally: Whether your building has a designated tornado shelter area. What your renter's insurance covers and excludes (most exclude flood). What portable preparations your lease permits.
First improvement: Get renter's insurance and confirm tornado shelter access in your building.
Older adults and people living alone
What changes: Heat illness risk is higher. Extended outages are harder to manage alone. Mobility limitations can slow shelter-seeking during a tornado warning. Medication access becomes critical during displacement.
Verify locally: Cooling center locations in your community. Whether a neighbor or nearby contact can check in during extended events.
First improvement: Establish a check-in arrangement with at least one nearby person who will verify your safety during severe weather and extended outages.
Medically dependent households
What changes: Refrigerated medications (insulin and others) lose effectiveness without cooling. Powered medical equipment (CPAP, oxygen concentrators, home dialysis) fails without electricity. Pharmacies may be closed or inaccessible after a tornado or during flooding.
Verify locally: Whether your utility has a medical-priority restoration list. Whether your pharmacy has a disaster-refill protocol. Battery backup options for essential equipment.
First improvement: Keep a current medication list, maintain a two-week supply, and identify a battery or generator solution for essential powered devices.
Warning systems
How warnings reach your household.
Indiana's warning chain runs from federal detection through state and county communication to your household. Understanding the chain helps you build redundancy into your own reception.
Federal detection and forecast
NOAA radar, NWS forecast offices, the Storm Prediction Center, and USGS earthquake monitoring detect hazardous conditions and issue watches and warnings.
NWS warnings and watches
Your local NWS office issues warnings (imminent danger) and watches (conditions favorable for a hazard). Indiana is covered by two in-state offices (Indianapolis and Northern Indiana) plus four out-of-state offices for border counties. A watch means prepare. A warning means act now.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
Tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, and other imminent-threat alerts are pushed to cell phones in the affected area. WEA does not require enrollment but depends on cellular service. During an extended power outage, cell towers may lose battery backup after 4 to 8 hours.
NOAA Weather Radio
Dedicated broadcast receivers that sound an alarm when the NWS issues a warning for your area. Operates on radio frequency, not cellular or internet, so it works when phones and internet are down. Battery backup is essential. Indiana has extensive NOAA Weather Radio coverage from multiple transmitter sites.
Outdoor warning sirens
Many Indiana communities operate outdoor warning sirens for tornado warnings. These are designed to alert people who are outdoors. They are not designed to be heard indoors, through closed windows, or with a television or air conditioner running. Do not rely on sirens as your only warning method.
County alert enrollment
Many Indiana counties operate their own alert notification systems that can send calls, texts, or emails for local emergencies beyond weather. These require enrollment and are not automatic. Contact your county emergency management office or check their website to enroll.
Road and travel information
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) operates the TrafficWise system showing real-time road conditions, closures, and incidents. Available at INDOT TrafficWise and as a smartphone app. Essential during winter storms, flooding, and post-storm debris clearing.
Prepare, endure, recover
The three phases of household readiness.
Prepare
Actions you can complete before the higher-attention season or within the next month.
- Enroll in your county alert system and test your NOAA Weather Radio.
- Designate and practice a tornado shelter location for every place your household regularly occupies.
- Store water. One gallon per person per day for at least three days, more for rural households on private wells.
- Review insurance: flood is a separate policy, earthquake is a separate rider. Confirm hail and wind deductibles.
- Set a household communication and reunification plan. Include an out-of-area contact.
- If you heat with electricity only, test your backup heat source before winter.
- Keep critical documents, medication list, and prescription copies in a portable waterproof container.
Endure
Household continuity decisions during the disruption. Follow official instructions from your NWS office and county emergency management. These state-specific notes supplement, not replace, the detailed protocols in each hazard guide.
- Tornado warning: Go to your shelter immediately. Do not look outside, check radar, or wait to see if it gets worse. Use the full lead time.
- Flash flooding: Never drive through standing water on a road. Turn around. This is the leading cause of flood deaths in Indiana.
- Extended power outage: Conserve phone battery for warnings. Check on neighbors, especially those who live alone. Monitor food temperatures and discard perishables after four hours above 40 degrees F.
- Earthquake: Drop, cover, and hold on. Move away from windows and heavy objects. Do not run outside. After shaking stops, check for gas leaks and structural damage before re-entering the building.
- Extreme heat: Stay hydrated. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Check on vulnerable household members and neighbors. If cooling fails, know where cooling centers are located.
Recover
First recovery steps after the event.
- Document damage with photographs before moving or cleaning anything. Your insurance claim depends on this documentation.
- Contact your insurance company as soon as safely possible. Ask about advance payments for immediate needs.
- If a federal disaster is declared, register with FEMA for Individual Assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
- Call Indiana 2-1-1 for referrals to food banks, housing, utility assistance, and other recovery resources.
- Be cautious with contractors. Get multiple estimates, check references and licenses, and do not pay the full amount upfront. Post-disaster contractor fraud is common.
- Follow official reentry instructions. Do not return to a damaged or flooded structure until authorities confirm it is safe.
Ten-action checklist
Ten high-value actions for Indiana households.
Each action is specific, achievable, addresses multiple Indiana hazards, and is free or low-cost when a reasonable option exists. Work through them in order.
- Identify your NWS forecast office and enroll in your county emergency alert system. This gives you two independent warning channels beyond Wireless Emergency Alerts. Indiana is covered by six NWS offices; knowing which one serves your county matters.
- Choose and practice your tornado shelter plan for every household member at every regular location. Home, work, school, and a plan for when you are in a vehicle. Especially important if anyone lives in a manufactured home.
- Check whether your home and two ordinary travel routes cross a mapped flood hazard area. Use FEMA's flood map service or the Indiana DNR floodplain information service. This also informs your insurance decision.
- Store at least three days of drinking water. One gallon per person per day. Rural well-dependent households should store more.
- Establish a backup lighting and device-charging method that works without grid power. Battery-powered lanterns and a portable battery bank are a minimum.
- If you heat with electricity only, identify and test a backup heat source before winter. Ice storms and severe wind events have left hundreds of thousands of Indiana customers without power for days to weeks.
- Review homeowner or renter insurance: verify that flood and earthquake riders are present or consciously declined. Standard policies exclude both. Hail and wind deductibles vary. Earthquake coverage is most relevant in southwestern Indiana.
- Set a household communication and reunification plan for when family members are separated. Include an out-of-area contact who can relay information if local calls fail.
- Keep a current medication list, two weeks of essential medications, and copies of critical documents in a portable location. Displacement after a tornado or flood may last days or weeks.
- If you live in northwest Indiana, verify that your roof is rated for the region's wind and snow loads. If you live in southwestern Indiana, secure heavy furniture and objects to walls against earthquake shaking.
Official resources
Indiana state and local resources by task.
Organized by what you need to accomplish, not by agency name.
Receive warnings and alerts
- National Weather Service: Find your local forecast office, view active warnings, and check forecasts.
- Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS): State emergency management, disaster declarations, preparedness programs, and the state hazard mitigation plan.
Check roads and travel conditions
- INDOT TrafficWise: Real-time road conditions, closures, incidents, cameras, and weather for Indiana highways.
Check rivers and flood conditions
- NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service: River stage forecasts for Indiana rivers.
- Indiana DNR Floodplain Management: State floodplain information and resources.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center: Look up flood zone designations for any address.
Check earthquake conditions
- USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: Recent earthquakes, national seismic hazard maps, and Wabash Valley Seismic Zone information.
- Indiana Geological and Water Survey: State geological survey with earthquake, karst, and groundwater information.
Check drought and water conditions
- U.S. Drought Monitor: Indiana: Weekly drought severity map for the state.
Report or monitor power outages
- PowerOutage.us: Indiana: Aggregated outage tracking across Indiana utilities.
Find shelter, food, housing, or recovery assistance
- Indiana 2-1-1: Statewide referral service for disaster recovery, energy assistance, food banks, housing, and human services.
- FEMA DisasterAssistance.gov: Apply for Individual Assistance after a federal disaster declaration.
Review the state hazard mitigation plan
- 2024 Indiana State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan: The state's full analysis of hazards, risks, and mitigation strategies.
What Indiana has learned
The August 2026 lesson: the grid is more fragile than it looks.
On August 12, 2026, severe thunderstorms with straight-line winds measured at 99 mph struck northwest Indiana. NIPSCO, the region's primary electric utility, reported approximately 300,000 of its 500,000 customers without power. The utility called it the worst outage event in its history.
Some communities waited over two weeks for full restoration. In Gary, more than 20,000 customers remained without electricity a week after the storms. Roughly 300 utility poles and 44 transmission poles needed replacement in Gary alone. Residents lined up at community centers for hot meals and a place to charge phones. Insulin-dependent residents described watching hundreds of dollars of medication spoil without refrigeration.
The lesson for every Indiana household: the infrastructure between the weather event and your front door is thinner than you think. Stored water, backup lighting, a charged battery bank, a plan for medication, and non-perishable food are not dramatic preparations. They are the difference between an inconvenient week and a dangerous one.
Limits and methodology
What this page can and cannot tell you.
Statewide information cannot determine property-level risk. Whether your specific address floods, whether your soil will liquefy in an earthquake, whether your well will hold up in a drought, and whether a tornado will hit your neighborhood are all property-specific questions that require local investigation.
Historical frequency is not a forecast. Past patterns inform preparation, but they do not predict when the next event will occur or how severe it will be.
Maps and designations change. Flood maps, seismic hazard maps, drought designations, and fire risk ratings are updated periodically. Check the current version for any decision that depends on them.
Official instructions during an event supersede general guidance. This page provides preparation and awareness information. During an active tornado warning, flood event, earthquake, or other emergency, follow the instructions of your local NWS office, county emergency management, and law enforcement.
Methodology and sources
Hazard classifications are based on the 2024 Indiana State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, NOAA Storm Prediction Center records, USGS earthquake hazard assessments, Indiana Department of Homeland Security disaster history, and NWS Indianapolis tornado climatology.
Operational regions were defined by shared hazard patterns and household planning needs, distinct from the land-search regions in the main Indiana state guide.
Tornado statistics: NWS Indianapolis reports an average of 22 tornadoes per year for Indiana (1950 through 2024). NOAA SPC aggregate data shows approximately 22.7 per year since 1950. The difference reflects aggregation methodology and overlapping search radii.
August 2026 outage: NIPSCO reported approximately 300,000 of its 500,000 electric customers without power, with winds measured at 99 mph. Some communities waited over two weeks for restoration. Sources: NIPSCO utility statements, NPR, CNN, and ABC7 reporting (August 2026).
Wabash Valley Seismic Zone: CUSEC and USGS classify the zone as capable of producing M7.0 earthquakes based on paleoliquefaction evidence. The April 18, 2008, M5.4 earthquake near Mt. Carmel, IL was felt in 28 states (USGS). The June 18, 2002, M4.6 earthquake near Evansville, IN is documented by the Indiana Geological and Water Survey.
NWS offices serving Indiana: Indianapolis (IND), Northern Indiana/North Webster (IWX), Chicago (LOT), Wilmington OH (ILN), Louisville KY (LMK), Paducah KY (PAH). Verified via NWS office pages and the Indiana weather briefing page (weather.gov/ind/INwxbrief).
External links verified September 2026.
Common questions
Indiana local risk, answered.
What are the most consequential hazards for Indiana households?
Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail, river and flash flooding, ice storms and winter storms, lake-effect snow in the northwest, extreme heat, and earthquakes from the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone in the southwest. Which hazards matter most depends on where in Indiana you live.
How do I find my NWS forecast office and county emergency management?
Enter your address at weather.gov to find your local NWS office. Indiana is served by two in-state offices plus four out-of-state offices for border counties. For county emergency management, contact Indiana DHS. Enroll in your county's alert notification system for location-specific warnings.
What causes the longest power outages in Indiana?
Severe straight-line wind events and ice storms. In August 2026, storms with 99 mph winds left approximately 300,000 NIPSCO customers in northwest Indiana without power, some for over two weeks. Ice storms, particularly in central and southern Indiana, can leave communities without electricity for days. Indiana households need a backup plan for heating, water, and communication that does not depend on grid power.
What is the earthquake risk in Indiana?
Southwestern Indiana sits over the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone, capable of producing magnitude 7.0 earthquakes based on paleoseismic evidence. A magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Mt. Carmel, Illinois in April 2008 was felt in 28 states. Most Indiana buildings were not designed for seismic loads. Earthquake insurance is a separate rider from standard homeowner policies.
What should every Indiana household do first?
Identify your NWS forecast office and enroll in your county alert system. Choose and practice a tornado shelter plan. Check whether your home and regular travel routes cross a mapped flood hazard area. Store at least three days of drinking water. If you heat with electricity only, identify a backup heat source before winter.
Start now
Ready to build your household plan?
The first 72 hours guide walks you through the core preparations that matter regardless of which Indiana hazard triggers them.
Start with your first 72 hours