Massac County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Massac County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Massac County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, ice storm, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 29% 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. Massac County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (4), 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 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Record/Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 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 | 7.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 43 | 35 | 0 | $1.1M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 93.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 72.8 | 42 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 66.5 | 5 | 0 | $515K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 31.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40.9 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 69.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 61.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 79.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 49.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 51.2 | 2 | 0 | $55K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 77 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 42.3 | 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
Massac County ranks in the 56th 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 | 56th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 55th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 64th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 40th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 54th | Moderate |
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 | 28th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 26th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 59.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 96 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 56 in 2016–20 vs 40 in 2021–25 (-29% — 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 Massac County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Massac County, Illinois are earthquake, ice storm, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Massac County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Massac County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Massac County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Massac County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Massac County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, McCracken County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Pope County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Massac County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Massac County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Massac 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. Massac County's composite score of 62 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 62% of US counties.