Natural Disaster Risk in Benton County

Natural Hazard Profile: Benton County, Indiana

Benton County is located in the United States in Indiana, home to roughly 8,719 residents. The county experiences cold winters and warm, humid summers with variable severe weather, with spring tornado risk across the state shaping the natural hazards faced by its communities. FEMA assesses risk at this county level, providing the baseline for every city and ZIP code within its boundaries.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Benton County carries an overall risk score of 3.7/10, placing it in the low category. Coastal tsunami exposure is the dominant hazard concern, with the regional tectonic environment capable of generating both local and distant-source tsunami waves. The area also faces notable exposure to volcano and cold wave.

Benton County's risk score, considerably below the 5.5/10 state average and below the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Benton County, the highest-scoring are tsunami, volcano, and cold wave. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Benton County carries a below-average natural disaster risk, reflecting fewer and less severe hazard exposures than typical U.S. communities. Even so, the area's primary risk — tsunami — warrants awareness and appropriate insurance coverage, as lower risk does not mean zero risk.