Kane County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Kane County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Kane County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, tornado, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 55% 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. Kane County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1967, covering 6 disaster types including flood (4), snowstorm (4), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Illinois Winter Snow Storms |
| 1999 | Snowstorm | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 total declarations since 1967.
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 | 32.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 95.5 | 20 | 0 | $515K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 86.4 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 90 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 98.6 | 23 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 21.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 63.6 | 81 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 77.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 77.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 63.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very High | 99.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 88 | 1 | 0 | $700K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 65.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 51.1 | 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
Kane County ranks in the 51st percentile (Moderate) 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 | 51st | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 48th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 50th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 83rd | High |
| 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 | 10th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 10th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 12.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 125 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 49 in 2016–20 vs 76 in 2021–25 (+55% — 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 Kane County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Kane County, Illinois are cold wave, tornado, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Kane County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Kane County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (4 declarations).
Has Kane County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Kane County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Kane County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, DuPage County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Boone County, IL has the lowest (Relatively Low). Kane County is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Kane County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Kane 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. Kane County's composite score of 95 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 95% of US counties.