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Gallatin County, Illinois

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

Very Low overall risk
77th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$7Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gallatin County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 77th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $6.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,391 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2011 (severe storms and flooding). Only 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $870,000 on 47 claims here.

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

Top risks in Gallatin County

$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times 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.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 125 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$623,546 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow36.0
$3M
EarthquakeLow84.5
$2M
Heat waveLow71.6
$624K
Strong windModerate64.0
$515K
TornadoLow37.0
$475K
DroughtModerate71.6
$366K
Cold waveLow32.6
$300K
HailVery Low32.8
$85K
Ice stormLow48.6
$50K
Winter weatherLow46.5
$36K
LightningVery Low14.8
$32K
HurricaneVery Low35.7
$14K
WildfireVery Low1.2
$312
LandslideVery Low14.3
$35

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

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm5
Flood1
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 7, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 1, 2005Record/Near Record SnowEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 238 storm reports in Gallatin County since 1963, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $9.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on February 29, 2012 near Equality.

12tornadoes
32hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
65damaging thunderstorm winds
118floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 29, 2012EF4Equality13 / 0
Mar 16, 1963F3–0 / 0
May 16, 2025EF2Kedron0 / 0
May 23, 2011EF1Equality0 / 0
Apr 2, 2024EF1Cottonwood0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 19, 2011Thunderstorm WindRidgway$2M
Jun 12, 2021Thunderstorm WindCottonwood$2M
Mar 18, 2008FloodRidgway$1M
Feb 29, 2012TornadoEquality$1M
May 1, 2011FloodShawneetown$400K
May 25, 2011Thunderstorm WindEquality$400K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 27, 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 Gallatin County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
6.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$869,820paid on 47 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $691,022 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 Gallatin County

$82,900median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
72%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.1%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; 2,505 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
Posey County, INLow17
Saline CountyLow7
White CountyLow8
Union County, KYVery Low26
Hamilton CountyVery Low8
Hardin CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Gallatin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gallatin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gallatin County, about $2.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Gallatin County had?

Gallatin County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2011.

Is Gallatin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 77th 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 Gallatin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Gallatin 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 Gallatin County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Gallatin County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on February 29, 2012 near Equality. The weather service has also logged 32 hail reports and 118 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.