Fayette County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Fayette County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 51% of US counties. It ranks 61st of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $704 per resident. Since 2002 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2021 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Fayette 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 49.5 | $6M | ||
| Earthquake | 86.1 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 63.5 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 53.4 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 70.9 | $920K | ||
| Strong wind | 58.4 | $675K | ||
| Drought | 73.7 | $624K | ||
| Hail | 56.4 | $325K | ||
| Lightning | 41.6 | $166K | ||
| Ice storm | 43.9 | $62K | ||
| Winter weather | 39.8 | $44K | ||
| Hurricane | 42.3 | $35K | ||
| Landslide | 73.1 | $8K | ||
| Wildfire | 15.8 | $5K |
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 very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Fayette County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Illinois also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 271 storm reports in Fayette County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $6.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on November 9, 1984.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 1984 | F2 | – | 11 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 1954 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 2025 | EF2 | Shobonier | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1999 | F2 | Brownstown | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 28, 2011 | EF2 | Confidnece | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 1984 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 1, 2002 | Hail | Farina | $2M |
| Jul 20, 2025 | Flash Flood | Lutz Spur | $600K |
| Apr 15, 1994 | Tornado | Loogootee To | $500K |
| Jul 21, 1954 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 1, 1983 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 26, 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 Fayette 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 Fayette 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; 8,808 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 | 6 | |
| Clinton County | 5 | |
| Effingham County | 5 | |
| Montgomery County | 5 | |
| Shelby County | 8 | |
| Bond County | 5 | |
| Clay County | 3 |
Common questions about Fayette County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Fayette County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fayette County, about $6.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $3 million.
How many federal disasters has Fayette County had?
Fayette County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2002, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in December 2021.
Is Fayette County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 61st 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 Fayette County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Fayette County had?
NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Fayette County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on November 9, 1984. The weather service has also logged 65 hail reports and 25 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.