Henry County, Indiana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 18065 · population 48,893 · 392 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 369 records for Henry County, Indiana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 260 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (167 records). The deadliest single record is the November 19, 2019 dense fog, filed for the forecast zone Henry, which covers the county: 1 death, 3 injuries and $46,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1974, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on August 25, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 369on 260 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 214 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $173Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 23strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 20latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Henry County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 167 since 1955. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in May and June. The rank column places the county among Indiana's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 167 | 128 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.3M | 41 of 91 |
| Hail | 69 | 40 | 1974-2024 | 0 | 0 | $8.6M | 65 of 91 |
| Winter storms | 46 | 45 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $21K | 52 of 91 |
| Floods | 27 | 20 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $367K | 69 of 91 |
| Tornadoes | 23 | 19 | 1957-2019 | 0 | 8 | $161M | 46 of 91 |
| Drought | 11 | 11 | 2010-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 91 |
| High wind and dust storms | 11 | 9 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $39K | 61 of 91 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 6 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 34 of 91 |
| Lightning | 5 | 5 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 2 | $870K | 20 of 91 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 45 of 91 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1996-2019 | 1 | 3 | $46K | 23 of 91 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Henry County had?
NOAA records 23 tornadoes in Henry County from 1957 to 2019, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries recorded in the county. That is 46th of 91 Indiana counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 23 tornadoes whose track touched Henry County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 23, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Henry County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 14:35, as SPC files it | Farmland to Ridgeville | F4 | 18 mi | 1 |
| 1974-04-03 14:00, as SPC files it | Kennard to Sulphur Springs | F4 | 18.9 mi | 0 |
| 1972-05-14 12:05, as SPC files it | Lawrence | F4 | 30 mi | 0 |
| 1962-06-18 18:50, as SPC files it | New Castle | F3 | 0.1 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Indiana.
Every tornado record filed for Henry County (23)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-27 | Honey Creek, Henry County | EF1 2.45 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 2019-05-27 | Middletown, Henry County | EF1 0.17 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2005-09-15 | New Castle, Henry County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2002-09-20 | New Castle, Henry County | F2 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
| 2002-07-09 | New Castle, Henry County | F0 2.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $49K |
| 2000-06-20 | Mt Summit, Henry County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $86K |
| 2000-06-20 | Middletown, Henry County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-11 | Mt Summit, Henry County | F1 9.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 1998-06-11 | New Castle, Henry County | F2 5.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 1997-07-02 | New Castle, Henry County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 1992-06-18 | Henry County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-03-10 | Henry County | F2 4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1976-03-20 | Henry County | F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-04-03 | Henry County | F4 1.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1974-04-03 | Henry County | F4 14.9 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 6 | – |
| 1974-04-01 | Henry County | F2 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1972-05-14 | Henry County | F4 | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1965-05-18 | Henry County | 0 | 0 | $30 step | |
| 1965-04-08 | Henry County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1962-06-18 | Henry County | F3 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1958-06-08 | Henry County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1958-04-05 | Henry County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1957-04-05 | Henry County | F2 | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Henry County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 24, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($50,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | Excessive HeatHenry County · forecast zone Henry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-24 | Thunderstorm WindKennard, Henry County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2026-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindLuray, Henry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-15 | Thunderstorm WindStraughn, Henry County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtHenry County · forecast zone Henry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Thunderstorm WindSpiceland, Henry County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtHenry County · forecast zone Henry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillHenry County · forecast zone Henry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Heavy SnowHenry County · forecast zone Henry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtHenry County · forecast zone Henry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-14 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillHenry County · forecast zone Henry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-13 | Heavy SnowHenry County · forecast zone Henry | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-11-19 | Dense FogHenry County · forecast zone Henry Just before 8 AM EST, Indiana State Police was called to the 125-mile marker on I-70 East, when a pickup truck crashed into the back of a semi. Police said the thick fog resulting in limited visibility is thought to have played a factor in the fatal crash. Unsafe speed was also a factor in the crash, according to ... | 1 | 3 | $46K | |
| 2008-06-04 | Flash FloodHillsboro, Henry County Heavy rains swelled small streams and creeks in Henry County. A woman died attempting to cross a flooded bridge over Slow Run Creek, also known as Colony Creek, on County Road 250 North near Hillsboro Road around 5:30 AM EST. Her vehicle submerged and swept downstream about a mile. | 1 | 0 | $14K | |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoHenry County | F4 14.9 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 6 | – |
| 2011-07-23 | LightningMiddletown, Henry County Police say two 11-year-old boys hurt by a lightning strike in central Indiana were attending a family reunion when the storm rolled in. Officials say one child of Cambridge, Md., was in critical but stable condition at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, while the other of Indianapolis was hospitalized in ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2003-09-01 | Thunderstorm WindNew Castle, Henry County Straight-line winds caused considerable damage to several houses and vehicles. A man also received an eye injury but was in fair condition. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $321K |
| 1972-05-14 | TornadoHenry County | F4 | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1957-04-05 | TornadoHenry County | F2 | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-09-20 | TornadoNew Castle, Henry County | F2 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
| 1998-06-11 | TornadoMt Summit, Henry County | F1 9.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2004-07-22 | LightningNew Castle, Henry County | 0 | 0 | $781K | |
| 2003-09-01 | Thunderstorm WindNew Castle, Henry County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $321K |
| 2000-06-20 | TornadoMt Summit, Henry County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $86K |
| 2002-07-09 | TornadoNew Castle, Henry County | F0 2.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $49K |
| 2019-05-27 | TornadoHoney Creek, Henry County | EF1 2.45 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 2019-11-19 | Dense FogHenry County · forecast zone Henry | 1 | 3 | $46K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 3, 1974 (tornado, Henry County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Henry County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 4 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 35 | 53 | 34 | 15 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 37 | 14 | 4 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 15 | 15 | 8 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 27 · Feb 19 · Mar 22 · Apr 29 · May 73 · Jun 71 · Jul 51 · Aug 26 · Sep 20 · Oct 5 · Nov 10 · Dec 16 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Henry County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Henry County: 12 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) and flood (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-25 | DR-4933 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2026-08-15 | EM-3651 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3641 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4515 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3456 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2008-06-08 | DR-1766 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2007-03-12 | EM-3274 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3238 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-01-21 | DR-1573 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-01-11 | EM-3197 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2004-06-03 | DR-1520 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2003-09-05 | DR-1487 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2003-07-11 | DR-1476 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-09-25 | DR-1433 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1999-01-15 | EM-3135 | Snowstorm | In-Winter Storm 12/23/98 |
| 1996-04-02 | DR-1109 | Flood | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1991-03-29 | DR-899 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 1991-01-05 | DR-891 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3028 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-423 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Henry County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 27 flood or flash flood records for Henry County from 1996 to 2025, on 20 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Henry County ranks 1865th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $601,000 on 33 claims filed in Henry County; the most in one year was 17 in 2026. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1992: 1 · 1997: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2010: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 17; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Henry County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Henry County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $14.7 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $4.3M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $718K | once in about 568 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $451K | 4.6 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $111K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $8.0M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $68K | 10 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $202K | 45 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $431K | 4.3 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Henry County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in IndianaEvery Indiana tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in IndianaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Indiana recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Henry CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Henry County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis