Alexander County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Alexander County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Alexander County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, drought, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 43% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (89th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Alexander County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1969, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (7), flood (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1995 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 total declarations since 1969.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 2.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 40.5 | 80 | 0 | $11.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 90.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 50.2 | 46 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 43.2 | 1 | 0 | $25K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 20.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 24 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 58 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 43.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 67.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 36.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 16.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 70.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 55.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Alexander County ranks in the 89th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 91st | High |
| Household characteristics | 85th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 74th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 75th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 24th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 23rd | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 45.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 137 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 87 in 2016–20 vs 50 in 2021–25 (-43% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Alexander County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Alexander County, Illinois are earthquake, drought, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Alexander County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Alexander County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Alexander County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Alexander County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Alexander County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Cape Girardeau County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Ballard County, KY has the lowest (Very Low). Alexander County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Alexander County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Alexander County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Alexander County's composite score of 44 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 44% of US counties.