Saline County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Saline County has experienced 9 federally declared disasters since 1996, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Saline County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, strong wind, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 92 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Saline County has been designated in 9 declarations since 1996, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (4), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Record/Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And 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 | 8.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 57.4 | 19 | 1 | $1.3M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 94.1 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 78.5 | 40 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 68.5 | 6 | 0 | $892K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 43.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 54.9 | 27 | 0 | $100K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 88.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 77.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 71.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 69.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 46.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 67 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 72.4 | 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
Saline County ranks in the 66th 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 | 66th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 59th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 74th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 21st | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 75th | High |
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 | 27th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 47.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 92 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 47 in 2016–20 vs 45 in 2021–25 (-4% — relatively stable).
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 Saline County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Saline County, Illinois are earthquake, strong wind, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Saline County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Saline County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 1996, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Saline County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Saline County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Saline County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Williamson County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Hardin County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Saline County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Saline County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Saline 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. Saline County's composite score of 70 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 70% of US counties.