Chatham, IL
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Chatham is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Sangamon County, IL. The county's highest-rated hazards are tornado, cold wave, and heat wave.
Storm events near Chatham
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Chatham's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Chatham itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Sangamon County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Chatham along with the rest of the county, not a Chatham-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 18.8 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 91.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 94.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 96.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 97.1 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 96.6 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 95.9 | Relatively High |
| Hail | 95.6 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | 41.4 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 80.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | 63.1 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 88.5 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 86.4 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 90.7 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Sangamon County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Sangamon County:
More on Sangamon County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Chatham, IL at risk of?
Chatham is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Sangamon County, where Chatham is located, are tornado, cold wave, and heat wave.
What is Chatham's biggest natural hazard risk?
Tornado is the highest-rated hazard for Sangamon County, where Chatham is located, scoring 97.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Chatham a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Chatham carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Sangamon County.
Has Chatham had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 43 tornado, 201 hail, 51 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Chatham since 2016.