Ripley County, Indiana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 18137 · population 28,944 · 446 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 801 records for Ripley County, Indiana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 483 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (241 records). The deadliest single record is the March 2, 2012 tornado: 3 deaths, 5 injuries and $353,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1968, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on August 15, 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
- 801on 483 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 412 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $47Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 25strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 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 Ripley County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 241 since 1960. 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 | 241 | 150 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 35 of 91 |
| Floods | 235 | 150 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $20M | 7 of 91 |
| Winter storms | 179 | 133 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 11 of 91 |
| Hail | 77 | 53 | 1970-2023 | 0 | 0 | $182K | 52 of 91 |
| Tornadoes | 25 | 21 | 1956-2025 | 3 | 12 | $8.5M | 49 of 91 |
| High wind and dust storms | 22 | 16 | 1999-2026 | 1 | 0 | $13M | 26 of 91 |
| Heat | 11 | 7 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 91 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 4 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 80 of 91 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 2013-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 91 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | $61K | 75 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 Ripley County had?
NOAA records 25 tornadoes in Ripley County from 1956 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 3 deaths and 12 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 26 tornadoes whose track touched Ripley County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 25: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 14 people, 3 of them in Ripley County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 14:19, as SPC files it | Henryville | F4 | 35.6 mi | 11 |
| 2012-03-02 14:52, as SPC files it | Holton to Osgood | EF3 | 8.69 mi | 3 |
| 1999-04-09 02:05, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 15 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Indiana.
Every tornado record filed for Ripley County (25)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-16 | Spades, Ripley County | EF1 5.64 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $40K |
| 2025-03-30 | Lookout, Ripley County | EF1 4.78 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $200K |
| 2025-03-30 | Napoleon, Ripley County | EF0 2.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $150K |
| 2022-03-07 | Osgood, Ripley County | EF0 1.28 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $101K |
| 2021-06-18 | Lookout, Ripley County | EF1 6.2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2020-04-08 | Cross Plains, Ripley County | EF0 0.18 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2020-04-08 | Elrod, Ripley County | EF0 2.6 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2020-04-08 | Versailles, Ripley County | EF1 2.49 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2017-10-07 | Sunman, Ripley County | EF0 2.86 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $78K |
| 2014-02-20 | Napoleon, Ripley County | EF1 0.81 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $125K |
| 2012-03-02 | Holton, Ripley County | EF3 8.69 mi x 350 yd | 3 | 5 | $353K |
| 2011-05-23 | Sunman, Ripley County | EF0 1.48 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2009-03-08 | Sunman, Ripley County | EF1 0.47 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 2004-07-30 | Holton, Ripley County | F2 2 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 2 | $727K |
| 1999-04-09 | Rexville, Ripley County | F3 15 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.5M |
| 1990-06-02 | Ripley County | F2 20.5 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 1981-11-19 | Ripley County | F1 4.7 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1978-06-12 | Ripley County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1978-06-08 | Ripley County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Ripley County | F4 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1970-04-29 | Ripley County | F1 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1970-04-29 | Ripley County | F0 0.3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1970-04-19 | Ripley County | F1 3.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1957-06-28 | Ripley County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1956-07-13 | Ripley County | F2 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Ripley County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 17, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($8,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | FloodFriendship, Ripley County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-18 | FloodOlean, Ripley County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-18 | Flash FloodElrod, Ripley County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindOld Milan, Ripley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindBenham, Ripley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-10 | FloodLookout, Ripley County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-10 | FloodElrod, Ripley County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindBatesville, Ripley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindElrod, Ripley County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-15 | Strong WindRipley County · forecast zone Ripley | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindRipley County · forecast zone Ripley | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindSunman, Ripley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoHolton, Ripley County The tornado touched down approximately one half mile southwest of Holton as an EF0 tornado. The tornado quickly intensified as it approached the southwest corner of Holton, reaching EF1 to EF2 intensity. The path of the tornado moved nearly parallel to the north side of Highway 50 as it moved through Holton. Many of ... | EF3 8.69 mi x 350 yd | 3 | 5 | $353K |
| 2008-09-14 | High WindRipley County · forecast zone Ripley Strong winds of 40 to 50 miles per hour were sustained for several hours. Gusts over 60 mph were common. Widespread damage occurred across the region, from trees being blown down on powerlines to significant structural damage. | 61 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $4.5M |
| 1990-06-02 | TornadoRipley County | F2 20.5 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 2004-07-30 | TornadoHolton, Ripley County A tornado moved along a two mile path from southwest of Holton into town. One house, one mobile home and two small planes were destroyed. Thirty-six other structures sustained major damage. Numerous trees were uprooted along the path of the tornado. | F2 2 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 2 | $727K |
| 1999-04-09 | TornadoRexville, Ripley County A tornado moved into Jefferson Proving Grounds from Jennings county and moved northeast across the county. Four mobile homes were destroyed and 4 were damaged. One house was destroyed while 8 had heavy damage and 20 minor damage. Twenty-one barns were destroyed, 6 had heavy damage, and 14 received minor damage. ... | F3 15 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.5M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-03-02 | FloodJefferson County and Ripley County · forecast zone Jefferson | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2008-09-14 | High WindDearborn County and Ripley County · forecast zone Dearborn | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8.0M |
| 1997-03-02 | FloodDearborn County and Ripley County · forecast zone Dearborn | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 2008-09-14 | High WindRipley County · forecast zone Ripley | 61 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $4.5M |
| 1999-04-09 | TornadoRexville, Ripley County | F3 15 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.5M |
| 2004-07-30 | TornadoHolton, Ripley County | F2 2 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 2 | $727K |
| 1996-01-06 | Winter StormRipley County · forecast zone Ripley | 0 | 0 | $376K | |
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoHolton, Ripley County | EF3 8.69 mi x 350 yd | 3 | 5 | $353K |
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: June 2, 1990 (tornado, Ripley County); April 29, 1970 (tornado, Ripley County); November 19, 1981 (tornado, Ripley 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 Ripley 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 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 42 | 38 | 59 | 88 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 40 | 85 | 62 | 48 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 20 | 37 | 90 | 32 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 20 | 31 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 12 | 3 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Ripley County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 77 · Feb 85 · Mar 95 · Apr 75 · May 92 · Jun 119 · Jul 89 · Aug 48 · Sep 22 · Oct 18 · Nov 20 · Dec 61 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Ripley County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Ripley County: 11 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2012-03-09 | DR-4058 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2011-06-23 | DR-1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and |
| 2009-03-05 | DR-1828 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-09-23 | DR-1795 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2008-06-08 | DR-1766 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 1996-07-03 | DR-1125 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1990-06-04 | DR-869 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3028 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1968-07-30 | DR-247 | Flood | Flooding |
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 Ripley County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 235 flood or flash flood records for Ripley County from 1996 to 2026, on 150 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Ripley County ranks 2085th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $120,000 on 20 claims filed in Ripley County; the most in one year was 11 in 2021. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1996: 2 · 2003: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2021: 11 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 2; 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 Ripley County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Ripley County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $14.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 4.8 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.6M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $8K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $587K | once in about 482 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.0M | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $156K | 3 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $232K | 50 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $78K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Ripley 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 Ripley CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Ripley County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis