Whitley County

Indiana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

24.6

National percentile: 25th

Whitley County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 24.6, 25th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $10M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 34K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
Medium $446K/yr
Tornado
Low $2M/yr
Strong Wind
Medium $827K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Medium 1.94 / yr $446K
Tornado Low 0.21 / yr $2M
Strong Wind Medium 5.20 / yr $827K
Heat Wave Low 4.95 / yr $497K
Landslide Very Low 0.08 / yr $2K
Hail Low 3.50 / yr $265K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $243K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.64 / yr $5M
Cold Wave Low 3.74 / yr $466K
Winter Weather Low 11.32 / yr $33K
Ice Storm Very Low 1.25 / yr $30K
Hurricane Very Low 0.02 / yr $13K
Lightning Very Low 41.25 / yr $78K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $4K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Whitley County?

Whitley County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 24.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 25th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Whitley County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $446K EAL), Tornado (Low, $2M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $827K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Whitley County compare to other Indiana counties?

Whitley County ranks #71 of 92 Indiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Whitley County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.