Randolph County, IN Environment & Hazard Risk
Very Low natural hazard risk, led by tornado. 278 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $9.17M
- Very Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 278
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 62
- 0.5% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- 1 tropical storm or stronger since 1915
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Very Low
Score 31.5 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Score 54.1 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively High
Score 61.1 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $6.45B · Agriculture value exposed: $274M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $10.64M
Risk by hazard
- TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.22M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
- EarthquakeRelatively Low$417K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 616 years
- Strong windRelatively Moderate$538K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.0 events a year
- HailRelatively Low$169K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
- HurricaneVery Low$15.66K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 120 years
- LandslideVery Low$232/yr expected annual loss, about once every 14 years
- LightningRelatively Low$84.29K/yr expected annual loss, about 44 events a year
- Ice stormVery Low$21.4K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- Winter weatherVery Low$16.72K/yr expected annual loss, about 10 events a year
- Cold waveVery Low$186K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.4 events a year
- Heat waveVery Low$49.81K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.1 events a year
- WildfireVery Low$1,990/yr expected annual loss, about once every 79,092 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, drought, 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
- 62 of 12,265 (0.5%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 301
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 56 (19%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 25
- Claims paid since 1978
- $143K
Flood claims paid per year
- Central U.S. April Flooding$62.68K · 2 claims
- 2026-08-Indiana-Flooding$23.72K · 3 claims
- March storm$2,140 · 1 claim
Storm history
Since 1996: 278 events, 1 death, $27.83M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind102
- Hail50
- Flash Flood26
- Winter Storm21
- Flood20
- Heavy Snow14
- Drought11
- High Wind10
- Tornado8 · 1 death
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill4
Events per year
23 tornadoes on record (EF0 2, EF3 1, F0 6, F1 4, F2 4, F3 4, F4 1).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- TornadoEF3, 17.14 mi path, 700 yd wide03/15/2024
Farmland, Randolph County
1 death, 37 injured, $25M damage
What happened
The Selma tornado lifted in the open area and fields between|eastern Delaware county to near Farmland before redeveloping. As it|moved through Rural Randolph county it bent or snapped numerous|utility poles along State Road 32. Also, a large blade on one of|the wind turbines in the area was badly damaged.||As the tornado entered Winchester, it severely damaged many homes|and snapped and uprooted trees in a west-to-east path through|Winchester. There was clear evidence of the tornado`s rotational|circulation, with uprooted trees pointed to the east on the|immediate south side of the tornado, and to the northwest on the|immediate north side of the tornado. The damage pattern also|indicated the possibility of small multiple vortices rotating|around the main vortex. In the residential core of the town, the|maximum intensity of the tornado was estimated around 130 mph or|high-end EF2 strength.||The greatest damage in Winchester occurred on the east side of|town at the Taco Bell, as the anchored building was destroyed, as|was a church immediately east of the restaurant. In this|concentrated area, the NWS Team estimated maximum winds of 155-165|mph, or high- end EF3 damage. Maximum...
- Flash Flood09/01/2003
Countywide, Randolph County
$1M damage
What happened
Record rainfall event occurred across central Indiana starting in the evening of August 31 and continuing through the morning of September 2. The heaviest rain occurred along an axis from Vigo to Clay to Putnam to Hendricks to Marion to Hamilton to Madison, Delaware and Randolph counties. Many spots near the axis received 8 to 10 inches over the 30 hour period. This resulted in widespread flash flooding and flooding along small creeks. There were numerous evacuations from homes and rescues from vehicles. Many schools were closed. Many neighborhoods that never saw flooding before were flooded. There were also hundreds of flooded basements. The National Guard was activated to help with road closings and rescues at the request of the city of Indianapolis. The flooding continued through the early morning of September 3.
- Flood01/22/1999
Randolph
$375K damage
What happened
Rapid snow melt and heavy rain on the 21st and 22nd led to flooding along the Missessinewa River. Ridgeville crested at 13. 93 feet (flood stage is 10 feet).
- Thunderstorm Wind56 kt wind03/11/2026
Union City, Randolph County
$150K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind56 kt wind03/11/2026
Union City, Randolph County
$120K damage
- Heavy Snow12/23/2004
Randolph
$100K damage
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/27/2026
Farmland, Randolph County
$3,000 damage
- TornadoEF0, 0.32 mi path, 25 yd wide06/12/2026
Maxville, Randolph County
$75K damage
- Hail1" hail03/23/2026
Harrisville, Randolph County
- Hail1.4" hail03/23/2026
Winchester, Randolph County
- Hail1.25" hail03/23/2026
Fairview, Randolph County
- High Wind52 kt wind03/15/2026
Randolph
$40K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind56 kt wind03/11/2026
Union City, Randolph County
$120K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind56 kt wind03/11/2026
Union City, Randolph County
$150K damage
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Randolph County, with the wind when it passed
- Unnamed storm (1915)08/05/1915 · Landfall: TX · 940 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
Drinking water
8 community water systems serve about 14,041 people. Violations since 2021.
2 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 2 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Indiana American Water - WinchesterServes 5,405 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
- Union City Water WorksServes 3,513 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Parker City Water DepartmentServes 1,400 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+5 monitoring or reporting
- Farmland Municipal Water WorksServes 1,301 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
- Lynn Water CompanyServes 1,097 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
- Ridgeville Water DepartmentServes 825 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+11 monitoring or reporting
- L & M Regional Water DistrictServes 450 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
- Riverside CommunityServes 50 · Groundwater · Private3 health violations+6 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 Winchester Airport 3 E, 4.9 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 83°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 18°F in Jan. About 40.1 inches of rain falls in a typical year.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 18°F | 2.73 in |
| Feb | 37°F | 20°F | 2.09 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 2.91 in |
| Apr | 61°F | 40°F | 3.99 in |
| May | 71°F | 52°F | 4.39 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 61°F | 4.84 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 64°F | 3.94 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 3.51 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 54°F | 3.04 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 3.13 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 32°F | 3.22 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 24°F | 2.27 in |
| Year | 51°F average | 40.1 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 4 toxic release facilities in Randolph County
Superfund sites
None in this county.
Toxic release facilities
- Ardagh Glass Inc32,783 lbs released, Winchester
- Cardinal Ethanol LLC13,615 lbs released, Union City
- Toa Winchester LLC0 lbs released, Winchester
- Silvertowne0 lbs released, Winchester
Total: 46,398 lbs in 2024, 46,029 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk6 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Randolph County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Randolph County very low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $9.17M a year. The highest-rated hazards are tornado (relatively moderate), earthquake (relatively low), strong wind (relatively moderate).
- What storms are most common in Randolph County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 278 storm events affecting Randolph County, most often thunderstorm wind (102), hail (50), flash flood (26).
- How many tornadoes have hit Randolph County?
- 23 tornadoes have been recorded in Randolph County since 1950, including 6 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Randolph County have flood insurance?
- 62 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Randolph County, covering about 0.5% of homes. The program has paid $143K on 25 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Randolph County?
- At Winchester Airport 3 E, average highs reach 83°F in Jul and lows fall to 18°F in Jan, with 40.1 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.