Adams County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Adams County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 64% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $26 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $394 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2019 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (74 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $14 million on 374 claims here, including $6.1 million for floods in 2008.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Adams County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 60.7 | $10M | ||
| Cold wave | 81.7 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 91.2 | $4M | ||
| Strong wind | 90.1 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 58.8 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 84.1 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 78.1 | $857K | ||
| Lightning | 76.2 | $679K | ||
| Earthquake | 64.6 | $645K | ||
| Ice storm | 53.5 | $107K | ||
| Winter weather | 62.5 | $107K | ||
| Landslide | 78.1 | $14K | ||
| Hurricane | 23.9 | $9K | ||
| Wildfire | 5.2 | $2K |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Adams County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
Illinois also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 515 storm reports in Adams County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 23 injuries and about $4.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 30, 1974.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1974 | F2 | – | 12 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 1955 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 23, 1977 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| May 26, 1955 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 2003 | F2 | Meyer | 4 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1974 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 18, 2008 | Flash Flood | Meyer | $500K |
| Apr 23, 1955 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 21, 1961 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 23, 1977 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 4, 2008 | Flood | Meyer | $124K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 17, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Adams County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Adams County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 30,302 housing units.
Compare in Illinois
All 102 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Inland flooding | |
| DuPage County | Inland flooding | |
| Lake County | Inland flooding | |
| Will County | Inland flooding | |
| Kane County | Inland flooding | |
| McHenry County | Inland flooding | |
| Winnebago County | Inland flooding | |
| Madison County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County, MO | 23 | |
| Hancock County | 17 | |
| Pike County | 23 | |
| Lewis County, MO | 25 | |
| Schuyler County | 16 | |
| Brown County | 14 |
Cities in Adams County
Common questions about Adams County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Adams County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Adams County, about $10 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $4.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Adams County had?
Adams County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2019.
Is Adams County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 41st highest of 102 in Illinois. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Adams County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Adams County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Adams County had?
NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Adams County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 30, 1974. The weather service has also logged 191 hail reports and 32 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.