Macoupin County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Macoupin County has experienced 9 federally declared disasters since 1983, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Macoupin County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, heat wave, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 20% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (12th 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. Macoupin County has been designated in 9 declarations since 1983, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (3), biological (2), tornado (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1983 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1983 | 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 | 9.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 68.7 | 3 | 0 | $15K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 94.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 91.5 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 78 | 14 | 0 | $60K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 24.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 87.8 | 24 | 0 | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 91 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 65 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 46 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 86.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 88.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 67.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 79 | 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
Macoupin County ranks in the 12th 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 | 12th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 24th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 26th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 5th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 10th | 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 | 8th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 8th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 32.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 44 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 20 in 2016–20 vs 24 in 2021–25 (+20% — 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 Macoupin County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Macoupin County, Illinois are earthquake, heat wave, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Macoupin County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Macoupin County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 1983, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (3 declarations).
Has Macoupin County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Macoupin County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes in 2022.
How does Macoupin County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Madison County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Greene County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Macoupin County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Macoupin County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Macoupin 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. Macoupin County's composite score of 80 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 80% of US counties.