White County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
White County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1983, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
White County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, winter weather, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 41% 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. White County has been designated in 10 declarations since 1983, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (4), biological (2), tornado (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 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 |
| 1983 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & 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 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 44.3 | 82 | 0 | $193K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 91.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 65.7 | 40 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 59.9 | 6 | 1 | $2.3M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 35.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 48 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 63.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 68.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 53.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 42.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 34.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 67.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 64.6 | 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
White County ranks in the 40th 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 | 40th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 42nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 66th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 2nd | 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 | 41.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 138 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 87 in 2016–20 vs 51 in 2021–25 (-41% — 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 White County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in White County, Illinois are earthquake, winter weather, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has White County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. White County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1983, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has White County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for White County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does White County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Saline County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Edwards County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). White County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is White County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
White 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. White County's composite score of 54 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 54% of US counties.