Gallatin County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Gallatin County has experienced 11 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Gallatin County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, heat wave, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 104 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. Gallatin County has been designated in 11 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (5), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Record/Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 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 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 36 | 51 | 0 | $363K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 84.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 71.6 | 44 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 37 | 4 | 0 | $305K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 35.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 32.8 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 64 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 46.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 48.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 32.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 14.8 | 1 | 0 | $20K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 71.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 14.3 | 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
Gallatin County ranks in the 45th 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 | 45th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 46th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 81st | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 9th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 34th | 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 | 21st | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 20th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 40.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 104 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 56 in 2016–20 vs 48 in 2021–25 (-14% — frequency decreasing).
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 Gallatin County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Gallatin County, Illinois are earthquake, heat wave, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Gallatin County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Gallatin County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Gallatin County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Gallatin County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Gallatin County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Saline County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Hardin County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Gallatin County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Gallatin County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Gallatin 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. Gallatin County's composite score of 34 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 34% of US counties.