Edwards County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Edwards County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1989, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Edwards County's highest-rated hazards are drought, earthquake, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 49 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Edwards County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1989, covering 5 disaster types including biological (2), tornado (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Record/Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1990 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1989 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
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 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 21.5 | 8 | 0 | $20K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 83.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 49 | 36 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 30 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 22.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 21.7 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 47.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 34.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 27.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 19.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 11 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 91.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 46.5 | 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
Edwards County ranks in the 31st 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 | 31st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 38th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 86th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 3rd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 10th | Very low |
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 | 2nd | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 2nd | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 44.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 49 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 23 in 2016–20 vs 26 in 2021–25 (+13% — 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 Edwards County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Edwards County, Illinois are drought, earthquake, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Edwards County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Edwards County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Edwards County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Edwards County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Edwards County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, White County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Wabash County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Edwards County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Edwards County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Edwards 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. Edwards County's composite score of 26 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 26% of US counties.