Ford County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Ford County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 85th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $8.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $653 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2011 (severe winter storm and snowstorm). Only 6 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 Ford 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.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 35.6 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 67.4 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 44.1 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 46.7 | $506K | ||
| Earthquake | 59.6 | $452K | ||
| Hail | 46.7 | $233K | ||
| Drought | 54.2 | $201K | ||
| Heat wave | 31.3 | $148K | ||
| Lightning | 15.8 | $54K | ||
| Winter weather | 23.0 | $21K | ||
| Ice storm | 21.8 | $19K | ||
| Hurricane | 15.2 | $4K | ||
| Wildfire | 1.8 | $684 | ||
| Landslide | 16.3 | $75 |
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 Ford 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 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 264 storm reports in Ford County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $21.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 7, 1980.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 1980 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 24, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 14, 1965 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1956 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 4, 1961 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2021 | Flash Flood | Garber | $12M |
| Jun 7, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 24, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 21, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gibson City | $750K |
| Jan 8, 2008 | Flood | Paxton | $500K |
| Feb 4, 2008 | Flash Flood | Paxton | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 Ford 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 Ford 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; 6,263 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign County | 10 | |
| McLean County | 9 | |
| Kankakee County | 5 | |
| Vermilion County | 10 | |
| Livingston County | 9 | |
| Iroquois County | 7 |
Common questions about Ford County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Ford County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ford County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Ford County had?
Ford County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm in March 2011.
Is Ford County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 85th 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 Ford County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Ford 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 Ford County had?
NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Ford County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 7, 1980. The weather service has also logged 47 hail reports and 35 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.