Ford County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Ford County has experienced 8 federally declared disasters since 1990, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Ford County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, earthquake, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 155% 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. Ford County has been designated in 8 declarations since 1990, covering 5 disaster types including snowstorm (3), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Illinois Winter Snow Storms |
| 1999 | Snowstorm | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 |
| 1990 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
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 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 35.6 | 13 | 0 | $12.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 59.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 31.3 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 44.1 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 15.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 46.7 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 46.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 23 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 21.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 67.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 15.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 54.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 16.3 | 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
Ford County ranks in the 38th 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 | 38th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 34th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 57th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 25th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 43rd | 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 | 1st | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 1st | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 17.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 39 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 28 in 2021–25 (+155% — 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 Ford County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Ford County, Illinois are cold wave, earthquake, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Ford County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Ford County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is snowstorm (3 declarations).
Has Ford County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Ford County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Ford 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 Livingston County, IL has the lowest (Relatively Low). Ford County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Ford County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Ford 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. Ford County's composite score of 26 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 26% of US counties.