Jasper County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Jasper County has experienced 9 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.
Jasper County's highest-rated hazards are drought, earthquake, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 25% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (9th 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. Jasper County has been designated in 9 declarations since 1990, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (3), biological (2), tornado (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1990 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & 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 | 2.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 28.4 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 75.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 37.2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 29.4 | 6 | 0 | $10K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 32.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 30.6 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 38.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 27.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 27.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 24.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 11.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 84.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 54.9 | 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
Jasper County ranks in the 9th 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 | 9th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 14th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 32nd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 1st | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 11th | 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 | 2nd | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 2nd | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 41.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 27 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 12 in 2016–20 vs 15 in 2021–25 (+25% — 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 Jasper County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Jasper County, Illinois are drought, earthquake, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Jasper County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Jasper County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (3 declarations).
Has Jasper County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Jasper County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Jasper County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Effingham County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Cumberland County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Jasper County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Jasper County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Jasper 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. Jasper County's composite score of 20 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 20% of US counties.