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Calhoun County, Illinois

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
100th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$4Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 32homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Calhoun County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 100th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $920 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance (77 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $17 million on 1,690 claims here, including $6.6 million for floods in 1993.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Calhoun County

$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$686,305 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Cold wave

Very Low
$291,518 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low16.1
$2M
Heat waveLow59.6
$686K
Cold waveVery Low20.8
$292K
TornadoVery Low18.8
$261K
Strong windVery Low16.1
$167K
EarthquakeVery Low33.8
$125K
DroughtLow38.3
$69K
HailVery Low14.6
$59K
LandslideLow86.4
$44K
LightningVery Low10.3
$41K
Winter weatherVery Low7.1
$6K
Ice stormVery Low4.8
$3K
HurricaneVery Low7.6
$992
WildfireVery Low0.6
$309

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 very low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Calhoun County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood11
Severe Storm7
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 2001FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
Show all 23
May 30, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1994Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 22, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 7, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1983Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 1969Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

Illinois also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 141 storm reports in Calhoun County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $556,130 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on February 11, 1999 near Mozier.

10tornadoes
32hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
76damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 11, 1999F2Mozier0 / 0
Oct 10, 1969F2–4 / 0
Feb 11, 1999F1Mozier0 / 0
Jun 14, 1998F1Belleview0 / 0
May 31, 1958F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 11, 1999TornadoMozier$300K
Feb 11, 1999TornadoMozier$100K
Jul 27, 2025Flash FloodBelleview$50K
Oct 10, 1969Tornado–$25K
Apr 16, 2013FloodKampsville$25K
Jul 9, 2007Thunderstorm WindBatchtown$20K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 2025. 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 Calhoun County

Check your address flood zone ›
3.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (77 policies)
21.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$16.8 millionpaid on 1,690 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $6.6 million paid

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 Calhoun County

$190,900median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 2,300 housing units.

Compare in Illinois

All 102 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Cook CountyVery HighInland flooding
DuPage CountyHighInland flooding
Lake CountyHighInland flooding
Will CountyHighInland flooding
Kane CountyHighInland flooding
McHenry CountyModerateInland flooding
Winnebago CountyModerateInland flooding
Madison CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
St. Charles County, MOModerate26
Lincoln County, MOLow27
Jersey CountyVery Low18
Pike County, MOVery Low24
Pike CountyVery Low23
Greene CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Calhoun County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Calhoun County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Calhoun County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $686,305.

How many federal disasters has Calhoun County had?

Calhoun County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in August 2023.

Is Calhoun County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 100th 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 Calhoun County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 32 homes in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Calhoun County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on February 11, 1999 near Mozier. The weather service has also logged 32 hail reports and 21 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.