Natural Disaster Risk in Bourbon

Natural Hazard Profile: Bourbon, Indiana

Bourbon is a town of roughly 3,500 residents in Marshall County, in the Great Lakes region. The area experiences cold winters and warm, humid summers with variable severe weather, with spring tornado risk across the state shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Bourbon.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Bourbon carries an overall risk score of 5.4/10, placing it in the moderate category. Frequent lightning strikes from an active thunderstorm environment represent the top natural hazard risk, posing safety concerns and causing fire ignitions and power outages. The area also faces notable exposure to cold wave and hail.

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

Bourbon's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that lightning exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.