Fulton County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Fulton County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Fulton County's highest-rated hazards are hail, landslide, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 46% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. 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. Fulton County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including flood (8), snowstorm (4), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2013 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 4.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 57.6 | 14 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 78.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 76.7 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 74 | 14 | 0 | $610K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 23.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 87.6 | 82 | 0 | $2.0M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 76.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 51.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 73.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 76.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 43 | 1 | 0 | $2K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 65.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 80.9 | 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
Fulton 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 | 43rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 8th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 21st | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 24th | 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 | 12th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 12th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 34.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 113 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 46 in 2016–20 vs 67 in 2021–25 (+46% — 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 Fulton County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Fulton County, Illinois are hail, landslide, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Fulton County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Fulton County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is flood (8 declarations).
Has Fulton County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Fulton County include Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Fulton County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Peoria County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Schuyler County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Fulton County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Fulton County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Fulton 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. Fulton County's composite score of 59 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 59% of US counties.