Wabash County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Wabash County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1989, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Wabash County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, drought, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 15% 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. Wabash County has been designated in 10 declarations since 1989, covering 5 disaster types including tornado (3), severe storm (3), biological (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 |
| 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 |
| 1990 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1989 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
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 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 25.8 | 40 | 0 | $170K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 86 | 10 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 54.5 | 38 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 29.1 | 2 | 0 | $501K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 15.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 22.3 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 35.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 40.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 29.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 25.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 15.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 68.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 42.6 | 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
Wabash County ranks in the 42nd percentile (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 | 42nd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 23rd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 77th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 19th | Very low |
| 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 | 3rd | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 3rd | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 29.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 87 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 47 in 2016–20 vs 40 in 2021–25 (-15% — 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 Wabash County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Wabash County, Illinois are earthquake, drought, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Wabash County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Wabash County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is tornado (3 declarations).
Has Wabash County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Wabash County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Wabash County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Knox County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Edwards County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Wabash County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Wabash County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Wabash 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. Wabash County's composite score of 25 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 25% of US counties.