Parke County, Indiana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 18121 · population 16,156 · 445 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 399 records for Parke County, Indiana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 317 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (139 records). The most damaging was the July 6, 2003 flood ($12.8 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1977, 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
- 399on 317 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 04 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $22Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest F3
- 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 Parke County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 139 since 1958. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. 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 | 139 | 116 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 2 | $2.4M | 65 of 91 |
| Floods | 129 | 113 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $16M | 14 of 91 |
| Hail | 50 | 37 | 1976-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 83 of 91 |
| Winter storms | 37 | 37 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 81 of 91 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 10 | 1953-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | 90 of 91 |
| Drought | 11 | 11 | 2010-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 91 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 8 | 1996-2019 | 0 | 0 | $23K | 73 of 91 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 6 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 51 of 91 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 91 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 2 | – | 74 of 91 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | – | 67 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 Parke County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Parke County from 1953 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Parke County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 14: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963-04-29 18:00, as SPC files it | Rosedale | F3 | 5.6 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Indiana.
Every tornado record filed for Parke County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | Ferndale, Parke County | EF0 0.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2025-04-02 | Numa, Parke County | EF1 10.78 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $200K |
| 2025-03-15 | Mecca, Parke County | EF1 2.66 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $350K |
| 2011-05-25 | Nyesville, Parke County | EF1 0.78 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-05-25 | Bridgeton, Parke County | EF0 0.35 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-19 | Waterman, Parke County | EF1 8.63 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
| 1990-06-02 | Parke County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-06-02 | Parke County | F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-06-02 | Parke County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1990-06-02 | Parke County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1971-03-15 | Parke County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1969-05-10 | Parke County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1963-04-29 | Parke County | F3 5.6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1953-03-14 | Parke County | F1 0.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Parke County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | Excessive HeatParke County · forecast zone Parke | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindAnnapolis, Parke County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindGrange Corner, Parke County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindRockville Butler Arp, Parke County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindMecca, Parke County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindWest Union, Parke County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindRockville, Parke County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindBellmore, Parke County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindFerndale, Parke County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2026-04-02 | TornadoFerndale, Parke County | EF0 0.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2026-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindBridgeton, Parke County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $125K |
| 2026-03-22 | HailBloomingdale, Parke County | 1.00 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-08-11 | LightningAnnapolis, Parke County Two men fishing in a canoe on Sugar Creek were struck by lightning. Both were injured, one of them seriously. The seriously injured man required cardiopulmonary resuscitation. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2005-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindRosedale, Parke County Trees were snapped off on County Road 900 South between Lyford and Rosedale. The limbs fell on a vehicle, causing damage and an injury. Damage numbers are estimated. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $15K |
| 1989-05-25 | Thunderstorm WindParke County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-07-06 | FloodParke County · forecast zone Parke | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2003-07-09 | Thunderstorm WindRosedale, Parke County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.6M |
| 2025-03-15 | TornadoMecca, Parke County | EF1 2.66 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $350K |
| 2025-04-02 | TornadoNuma, Parke County | EF1 10.78 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $200K |
| 2026-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindBridgeton, Parke County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $125K |
| 2026-04-02 | TornadoFerndale, Parke County | EF0 0.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2026-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindFerndale, Parke County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2011-04-19 | TornadoWaterman, Parke County | EF1 8.63 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 29, 1963 (tornado, Parke 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 Parke 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 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 56 | 18 | 20 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 23 | 97 | 7 | 2 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 21 | 10 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
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 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 32 · Feb 32 · Mar 33 · Apr 49 · May 66 · Jun 64 · Jul 50 · Aug 26 · Sep 8 · Oct 6 · Nov 11 · Dec 22 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Parke County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Parke County: 13 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) 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 |
| 2014-04-22 | DR-4173 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2011-06-23 | DR-1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and |
| 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 |
| 2004-09-01 | DR-1542 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2003-07-11 | DR-1476 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-06-13 | DR-1418 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1999-01-15 | EM-3135 | Snowstorm | In-Winter Storm 12/23/98 |
| 1998-07-22 | DR-1234 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1996-04-02 | DR-1109 | Flood | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1993-09-09 | DR-1002 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1991-01-05 | DR-891 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3028 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
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 Parke County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 129 flood or flash flood records for Parke County from 1996 to 2025, on 113 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Parke County ranks 2085th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $348,000 on 20 claims filed in Parke County; the most in one year was 5 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1985: 1 · 1991: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2008: 5 · 2009: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1; 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 Parke County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Parke County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $422K | 2.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $12K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $451K | once in about 383 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.3M | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $79K | 9.3 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $300K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $494K | 4.6 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $976K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Parke 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 Parke CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Parke County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis