Owen County, IN Environment & Hazard Risk
Very Low natural hazard risk, led by landslide. 338 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $10.5M
- Very Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 338
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 47
- 0.4% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- Since 1851
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Very Low
Score 35.1 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Score 47.1 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Moderate
Score 43.4 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $4.62B · Agriculture value exposed: $43.93M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $11.7M
Risk by hazard
- LandslideRelatively Moderate$49.6K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Strong windRelatively Moderate$1.37M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.7 events a year
- EarthquakeRelatively Low$452K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 357 years
- Winter weatherRelatively Low$76.61K/yr expected annual loss, about 8.3 events a year
- HailRelatively Low$270K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.8 events a year
- Ice stormRelatively Low$79.35K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Heat waveRelatively Low$342K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.6 events a year
- DroughtRelatively Low$108K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.7 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Low$1.01M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
- Cold waveRelatively Low$567K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.2 events a year
- LightningVery Low$62.93K/yr expected annual loss, about 50 events a year
- HurricaneVery Low$2,620/yr expected annual loss, about once every 110 years
- WildfireVery Low$3,536/yr expected annual loss, about once every 74,048 years
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 47 of 11,344 (0.4%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 240
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 38 (16%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 147
- Claims paid since 1978
- $3.59M
Flood claims paid per year
- Storm$2.23M · 56 claims
- Central U.S. April Flooding$291K · 7 claims
- Flooding$7,021 · 2 claims
Storm history
Since 1996: 338 events, 5 deaths, $147M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind104
- Flood76
- Hail51
- Flash Flood28 · 1 death
- Winter Storm18
- Heavy Snow14
- Drought10
- Heavy Rain8
- High Wind7
- Tornado7 · 2 deaths
Events per year
17 tornadoes on record (EF0 4, EF1 1, EF3 1, F0 1, F1 7, F2 2).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Flood06/05/2008
Spencer, Owen County
$110M damage
What happened
Flooding occurred along the White River in Owen County, including near Spencer, due to heavy rain.
- TornadoEF3, 2.42 mi path, 400 yd wide04/01/2023
Spencer, Owen County
2 deaths, 2 injured, $1.57M damage
What happened
The rotating supercell thunderstorm tracked over the town of Spencer before spawning a second, violent EF3 tornado, that first tracked through extreme northeastern Owen County. The tornado touched down in the McCormick's Creek State Park Campground Loop B, where EF2-intensity winds produced extensive tree damage. About 400 yards east the tornado impacted many campers at Campground Loop A, where two campers were killed and two others were injured. About 1.25 miles to the east-northeast further EF2-intensity damage occurred at Concord Road where large sections of a home's roof were removed while cars where crushed, rolled and thrown; here along the circulation's southern side the roof was blown off of a mobile home as it slid off its block piers, yet remained upright, consistent with high-end EF1 intensity winds.||The tornado intensified to EF3 strength as it neared the Owen-Monroe County line, with two barns 300-500 feet west of North County Line Road completely gone as their debris was lofted a quarter mile into Monroe County; a new farm combine weighing about 12 tons and other tractor implements were lofted and thrown 50 yards; debarking of trees also began near County...
- Strong Wind43 kt wind04/24/2022
Owen
2 deaths, $1,000 damage
What happened
Robust breezes downed a large dead tree at Indian Oaks Campground in northeastern Owen County, which fell on a golf cart that two children were in, killing both. Nearby ASOS in Bloomington, IN showed peak gusts that afternoon as high as 41 mph.
- Flash Flood06/19/2021
Freedom, Owen County
$20M damage
What happened
Numerous local and county roads closed due to high water. A couple were rescued by boat from the roof of their vehicle on State Road 43. Additional water rescues were done across Owen and Monroe counties. 1500 Fish Creek road was completely flooded with water rapidly flowing across the road. White Road along Raccoon Creek was destroyed by flood waters. Across the county roads have suffered severe damage, 23 culverts have been washed out and 2 bridges have significant damage. In all, over 30 Owen County roads are closed. A local emergency disaster declaration was created later in the day.
- Flash Flood12/22/2013
Adel, Owen County
1 death, $5,000 damage
What happened
An Owen County woman was killed Christmas Eve when her car hit flooded waters on her way to a Christmas family gathering. According to a release, emergency crews responded to the area around 8:00 p.m. Tuesday for a call that a car landed in flooded water. When they got to the vehicle, they say there wasn't anyone inside. After a brief search, including a door-to-door search, they found the driver, 86, partially submerged in the water a short distance from the car. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Heavy Snow12/15/2019
Owen
6 injured, $50K damage
What happened
Snowfall amounts ranged from 3.7 to 5.4 inches across the count with the highest across the northeastern portions of the county. Impacts to travel were significant with evening rush hour call load to 911 dispatch 4 to 6 times the average. There were a total of 60 accidents with 6 injuries that were determined to be related to the snow.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind06/22/2026
Whitehall, Owen County
$20K damage
- TornadoEF0, 0.92 mi path, 25 yd wide06/22/2026
Patricksburg, Owen County
$15K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/18/2026
Spencer, Owen County
$10K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/18/2026
Atkinsonville, Owen County
$5,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/18/2026
Gosport, Owen County
$10K damage
- TornadoEF0, 3.05 mi path, 250 yd wide06/18/2026
Spencer, Owen County
$75K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/18/2026
Cunot, Owen County
$5,000 damage
- Flood05/19/2026
Vandalia, Owen County
$50K damage
Drinking water
3 community water systems serve about 13,967 people. Violations since 2021.
1 system had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step.
- Bbp Water CompanyServes 9,903 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
- Cataract Lake Water CorporationServes 3,215 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
- Gosport Water UtilityServes 849 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+4 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Spencer, 5.8 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 85°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 20°F in Jan. About 49.7 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 15.8 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 20°F | 3.45 in | 6.9 in |
| Feb | 42°F | 23°F | 2.64 in | 4.2 in |
| Mar | 52°F | 31°F | 3.65 in | 1.5 in |
| Apr | 64°F | 41°F | 5.34 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 74°F | 51°F | 5.19 in | - |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 5.82 in | - |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 4.93 in | - |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.58 in | - |
| Sep | 79°F | 54°F | 3.76 in | - |
| Oct | 67°F | 42°F | 3.86 in | - |
| Nov | 53°F | 32°F | 4.01 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 42°F | 25°F | 3.46 in | 2.8 in |
| Year | 53°F average | 49.7 in | 15.8 in | |
Pollution sites
2 Superfund sites and 0 toxic release facilities in Owen County
Superfund sites
- Franklin Street Groundwater ContaminationFinalSpencer
- Neal's Dump (Spencer)DeletedSpencer
Toxic release facilities
None reporting in this county.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk11 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Owen County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Owen County very low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $10.5M a year. The highest-rated hazards are landslide (relatively moderate), strong wind (relatively moderate), earthquake (relatively low).
- What storms are most common in Owen County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 338 storm events affecting Owen County, most often thunderstorm wind (104), flood (76), hail (51).
- How many tornadoes have hit Owen County?
- 17 tornadoes have been recorded in Owen County since 1950, including 1 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Owen County have flood insurance?
- 47 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Owen County, covering about 0.4% of homes. The program has paid $3.59M on 147 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Owen County?
- At Spencer, average highs reach 85°F in Jul and lows fall to 20°F in Jan, with 49.7 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.