Schuyler County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Schuyler County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Schuyler County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, drought, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 17% 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. Schuyler County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including flood (6), severe storm (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2013 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1999 | Snowstorm | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 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 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 8.2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 35.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 55.1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 27.6 | 4 | 0 | $272K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 15.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 58 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 61.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 17.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 19.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 61.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 19.1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 61.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 79.4 | 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
Schuyler County ranks in the 50th 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 | 50th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 47th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 77th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 23rd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 42nd | 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 | 46.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 26 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 12 in 2016–20 vs 14 in 2021–25 (+17% — 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 Schuyler County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Schuyler County, Illinois are landslide, drought, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Schuyler County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Schuyler County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (6 declarations).
Has Schuyler County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Schuyler County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Schuyler County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Adams County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Brown County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Schuyler County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Schuyler County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Schuyler 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. Schuyler County's composite score of 11 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 11% of US counties.