Stephenson County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Stephenson County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Stephenson County's highest-rated hazards are hail, strong wind, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 26% 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. Stephenson County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1969, covering 5 disaster types including flood (4), snowstorm (4), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2008 | Snowstorm | Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 total declarations since 1969.
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 | 27 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 77.9 | 22 | 0 | $7.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 57.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 63.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 82.3 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 15.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 93.3 | 32 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 85.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 44.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 69.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 80.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 47.2 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 81 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 52.3 | 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
Stephenson County ranks in the 52nd 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 | 52nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 47th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 66th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 51st | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 45th | 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 | 7th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 6th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 29.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 54 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 31 in 2016–20 vs 23 in 2021–25 (-26% — 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 Stephenson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Stephenson County, Illinois are hail, strong wind, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Stephenson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Stephenson County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (4 declarations).
Has Stephenson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Stephenson County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Stephenson County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Winnebago County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Lafayette County, WI has the lowest (Very Low). Stephenson County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Stephenson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Stephenson 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. Stephenson County's composite score of 74 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 74% of US counties.