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Douglas County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
43rd of 102highest risk in Illinois
$20Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Douglas County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $999 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (95 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 209 claims here.

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

Top risks in Douglas County

$7.9 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.

Hail

High
$4.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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 floodingLow60.1
$8M
HailHigh97.6
$5M
Cold waveModerate69.8
$2M
DroughtModerate89.3
$1M
Strong windModerate83.8
$1M
EarthquakeLow76.4
$1M
TornadoLow47.2
$979K
Heat waveLow53.5
$384K
LightningLow34.8
$115K
Winter weatherModerate63.1
$88K
HurricaneVery Low39.2
$24K
Ice stormVery Low25.3
$21K
WildfireVery Low4.2
$1K
LandslideVery Low26.6
$198

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 moderate 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 Douglas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Snowstorm2
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 26, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor 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
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
May 6, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1994Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Mar 6, 1990Severe Ice StormMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 280 storm reports in Douglas County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 47 injuries and about $112 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on November 17, 2013 near Ficklin.

31tornadoes
76hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
136damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 17, 2013EF3Ficklin0 / 0
Apr 22, 1963F3–20 / 0
Jun 1, 1980F2–7 / 0
Jun 20, 1990F2–0 / 0
Mar 6, 1961F2–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 21, 2014HailTuscola$100M
Jun 1, 1980Tornado–$3M
Jun 20, 1990Tornado–$3M
Dec 27, 2015FloodGarrett$2M
Nov 17, 2013TornadoFicklin$1M
Nov 17, 2013TornadoGarrett$825K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 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 Douglas County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (95 policies)
12.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 209 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $212,582 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 Douglas County

$150,400median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.9%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; 8,507 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
Champaign CountyModerate10
Vermilion CountyLow10
Coles CountyLow7
Edgar CountyVery Low7
Piatt CountyVery Low7
Moultrie CountyLow8

Common questions about Douglas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Douglas County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Douglas County, about $7.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $4.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Douglas County had?

Douglas County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in August 2023.

Is Douglas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 43rd 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 Douglas County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Douglas 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 Douglas County had?

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Douglas County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on November 17, 2013 near Ficklin. The weather service has also logged 76 hail reports and 36 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.