Natural Disaster Risk in Highland

Natural Hazard Profile: Highland, Indiana

Highland is a city of approximately 23,680 residents in Lake 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 Highland.

FEMA rates Highland's composite natural disaster risk at 7.4 out of 10 — high risk. Cold wave events are the primary hazard risk, driven by periodic invasions of Arctic air that drive wind chills to life-threatening levels and stress heating systems. Residents should also account for tornado and winter risk in their preparedness planning.

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

With a high natural disaster risk rating, Highland residents benefit from taking preparedness seriously. Reviewing insurance coverage for cold wave and secondary hazards, registering for emergency alerts, and maintaining a household emergency kit are practical steps that can significantly reduce impact during a major event.