Effingham County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Effingham County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1996, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Effingham County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, drought, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 55 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is relatively low (21st percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Effingham County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1996, covering 5 disaster types including biological (2), tornado (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
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 | 10.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 49.2 | 25 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 88.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 66.9 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 63.6 | 10 | 0 | $190K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 40.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 60.9 | 27 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 58.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 63.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 49.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 59.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 37.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 87.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 70.7 | 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
Effingham County ranks in the 21st percentile (Very 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 | 21st | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 5th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 60th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 5th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 62nd | 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 | 6th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 6th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 40.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 55 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 26 in 2016–20 vs 29 in 2021–25 (+12% — 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 Effingham County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Effingham County, Illinois are earthquake, drought, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Effingham County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Effingham County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1996, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Effingham County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Effingham County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2022.
How does Effingham County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Marion County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Jasper County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Effingham County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Effingham County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Effingham 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. Effingham County's composite score of 54 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 54% of US counties.