McLean County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
McLean County has experienced 11 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
McLean County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, drought, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 127% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (19th 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. McLean County has been designated in 11 declarations since 1968, covering 6 disaster types including snowstorm (3), biological (2), severe ice storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Illinois Winter Snow Storms |
| 1999 | Snowstorm | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 |
| 1990 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 1974 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1973 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 total declarations since 1968.
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 | 8.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 85.2 | 19 | 0 | $12.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 82.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 85.2 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 89.6 | 18 | 0 | $330K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 32.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 88.3 | 69 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 81.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 85.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 71.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 98.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 57.4 | 3 | 0 | $115K |
| Drought | Relatively High | 93 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 49.2 | 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
McLean County ranks in the 19th 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 | 19th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 12th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 6th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 55th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 60th | 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 | 1st | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 1st | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 11.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 108 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 33 in 2016–20 vs 75 in 2021–25 (+127% — 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 McLean County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in McLean County, Illinois are cold wave, drought, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has McLean County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. McLean County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is snowstorm (3 declarations).
Has McLean County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for McLean County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does McLean County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Tazewell County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Ford County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). McLean County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is McLean County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
McLean 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. McLean County's composite score of 87 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 87% of US counties.