Natural Disasters in Columbus, IN

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

70.9

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

75.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

23.1

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

78.5

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Tornado87.3Earthquake83.3Landslide73.2

Hazard	Risk Score
Tornado	87.3
Earthquake	83.3
Landslide	73.2
Winter Weather	70.3
Hail	64.4
Heat Wave	60.8
Ice Storm	58.9
Strong Wind	57.0
Drought	50.4
Cold Wave	48.7
Lightning	45.1
Wildfire	26.1
Hurricane	21.4

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Flood

3 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Jul 22, 2025	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Apr 3, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jun 8, 2008	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES
Sep 10, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Jan 21, 2005	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING
Jan 11, 2005	Snowstorm	SNOW
Sep 25, 2002	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
Apr 2, 1996	Flood	BLIZZARD OF 96
Jan 5, 1991	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Apr 4, 1974	Tornado	TORNADOES

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

504

Total Claims Paid

$14,952,898

Avg Claim Payout

$29,668

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$67,817,995

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

423

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-1766	Severe Storm(s)	376	$64,273,886
DR-4515	Biological	17	$2,833,376
DR-4882	Severe Storm(s)	14	$488,324
DR-3197	Snow	5	$133,844
DR-1573	Severe Storm(s)	11	$88,565

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$2,573,341

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.34

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	2	$2,558,971
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)	1	$14,370

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Columbus has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are tornado, earthquake, landslide. The area has had 12 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (3 declarations). 504 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $67,817,995 in public assistance recovery funding. 3 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.