Indiana's Worst Natural Disaster Wasn't a Tornado Surprisingly

Indiana is no stranger to natural disasters, but one website recently discovered the worst natural disaster in the state's history. Can you guess what it was?

We have seen our fair share of natural disasters in Indiana throughout the years. Perhaps, one of the most frequent types of natural disasters in Indiana would be tornadoes. On average, Indiana gets hit by about 22 tornadoes per year, according to Weather.gov. There's a good chance that you have heard some stories in the past about devastating tornadoes in Indiana. That's not the only natural disaster we have to worry about though. Indiana has seen blizzards, ice storms, droughts, floods, and even a few earthquakes. We have seen some memorable natural disasters in our lifetime here in Indiana, but what is the worst natural disaster in Indiana's history?

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Recently, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed government sources on the weather event in each state’s history that caused the highest number of fatalities to determine the worst natural disaster in every state. You might naturally think that a significant tornado would be the worst natural disaster in Indiana, but surprisingly, that's not the case.

The Worst Natural Disaster in Indiana's History

According to 24/7 Wall St., the worst natural disaster in Indiana's history was the Great Flood of 1913. This event took place in March of 1913. Several unfortunate events led to the flood including a windstorm, a cyclone, and severe rainfall. According to the Indy Star:

Flooding left the Wabash River nearly seven miles wide. It averaged 5 to 7 feet deep between Vincennes and Lawrenceville, Illinois. While there was no official county, the death toll in Indiana is estimated between 100 to 200.

Not only did this flood affect Indiana but several other states as well. Dayton, Ohio was probably the most affected. The History Channel says that it's estimated that the Great Flood of 1913 killed more than 1,000 Americans, making it the country’s second-deadliest deluge (behind only the 1889 Johnstown Flood, in which more than 2,200 lost their lives). You can learn more about the Great Flood of 1913 by clicking here.

24/7 Wall St. did mention that the other event considered to be the worst natural disaster in Indiana's history was the Tri-State Tornadoes of 1925. You can learn all about that event in Indiana history by clicking here.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Indiana

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Indiana using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.