Indiana has averaged zero federal disaster declarations per year over the past five years, according to new data from USAFacts updated July 8, 2026. The figure reflects the state's relatively low rate of events severe enough to overwhelm state and local resources and trigger presidential approval for federal aid. As of June 2026, Indiana has seen one disaster declaration this year, matching the single declaration recorded in 2025.
The report tracks Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) data and shows that between 2021 and 2025, Indiana recorded an average of zero declarations annually. Since 1980, the state has had 54 total disaster declarations across eight disaster categories. Severe storms account for 25 of those declarations, representing 58.1% of all disaster types declared in that 46-year span. The most recent declaration came January 24, 2026, for a severe winter storm, while the 2025 declaration was issued July 22 for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding. COVID-19 accounted for two biological emergency declarations in 2020.
The report explains that disaster declarations are formal requests for federal aid approved by the president when state, local, or tribal resources are overwhelmed. Major disaster declarations apply to hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, landslides, mudslides, droughts, explosions, and other severe natural events that typically cause widespread damage requiring long-term recovery. Emergency declarations are issued when federal assistance is needed to protect lives, property, or public health and safety, with aid capped at $5 million for urgent crises such as public health emergencies, terrorist attacks, or power outages. A third category, fire management declarations, applies to managing and suppressing either a single large blaze or multiple smaller fires, with expedited decisions usually made within a few hours rather than the longer timelines for other declaration types.
The data suggests Indiana experiences relatively few disasters severe enough to exceed state capacity compared to other regions prone to hurricanes, wildfires, or frequent severe weather. The report notes that declarations vary due to the type and severity of disasters, whether the president approves requests for federal assistance, and other factors. In most cases, governors request these declarations, though tribal nations may also submit requests independently. The low average reflects a combination of fewer extreme weather events in Indiana and the threshold required for presidential approval—disasters must genuinely overwhelm state resources before federal aid becomes available. With only one declaration so far in 2026, Indiana remains on track to maintain its historically low rate of federally declared disasters.