Douglas County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Douglas County has experienced 13 federally declared disasters since 1990, most recently Severe Storms And Flooding in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Douglas County's highest-rated hazards are hail, drought, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 62% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Douglas County has been designated in 13 declarations since 1990, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (4), biological (2), tornado (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2013 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1999 | Snowstorm | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 total declarations since 1990.
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 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 60.1 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 76.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 53.5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 47.2 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 39.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 97.6 | 22 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 83.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 63.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 25.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 69.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 34.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 89.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 26.6 | 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
Douglas County ranks in the 46th percentile (Low) 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 | 46th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 45th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 33rd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 55th | Moderate |
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 | 1st | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 1st | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 17.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 34 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 13 in 2016–20 vs 21 in 2021–25 (+62% — frequency increasing).
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 Douglas County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Douglas County, Illinois are hail, drought, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Douglas County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Douglas County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Douglas County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Douglas County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms And Flooding in 2023.
How does Douglas County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Champaign County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Cumberland County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Douglas County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Douglas County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Douglas 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. Douglas County's composite score of 62 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 62% of US counties.