Iroquois County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Iroquois County has experienced 9 federally declared disasters since 1990, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Iroquois County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, inland flooding, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 35% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (27th 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. Iroquois County has been designated in 9 declarations since 1990, covering 6 disaster types including biological (2), snowstorm (2), severe storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1994 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 79.6 | 17 | 0 | $1.5M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 71.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 44 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 57.2 | 16 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 30.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 66.8 | 14 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 46.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 26.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 26.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 93.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 33.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 22.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 38.5 | 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
Iroquois County ranks in the 27th 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 | 27th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 41st | Low |
| Household characteristics | 65th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 34th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 6th | 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 | 1st | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 1st | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 24.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 54 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 23 in 2016–20 vs 31 in 2021–25 (+35% — 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 Iroquois County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Iroquois County, Illinois are cold wave, inland flooding, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Iroquois County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Iroquois County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Iroquois County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Iroquois County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Iroquois County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Kankakee County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Benton County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Iroquois County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Iroquois County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Iroquois 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. Iroquois County's composite score of 74 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 74% of US counties.