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Greene County, Illinois

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

Very Low overall risk
94th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$6Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Greene County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 94th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $506 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2019 (severe storms and flooding). Only 10 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 77 claims here, including $1.2 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 Greene County

$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.1 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.
$686,318 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 floodingVery Low13.2
$2M
Cold waveLow50.6
$1M
Heat waveLow61.8
$686K
TornadoLow31.9
$629K
Strong windLow49.8
$600K
DroughtModerate68.4
$528K
EarthquakeVery Low55.8
$410K
HailLow40.8
$202K
LightningLow25.1
$98K
Winter weatherVery Low19.5
$19K
LandslideLow75.5
$11K
Ice stormVery Low14.7
$10K
HurricaneVery Low18.3
$6K
WildfireVery Low0.3
$108

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood6
Snowstorm1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 19, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 3, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 28, 2006Tornadoes and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 15, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
May 30, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 17
Apr 26, 1994Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe 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
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 192 storm reports in Greene County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 22 injuries and about $4.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 1, 1983.

21tornadoes
58hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
96damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 1, 1983F3–15 / 0
May 20, 1975F2–0 / 0
Nov 15, 1988F2–0 / 0
Oct 11, 2021EF2Wrights0 / 0
Mar 12, 2006F2Hillview0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 1983Tornado–$3M
Apr 24, 2002HailCarrollton$750K
Apr 24, 2002HailGreenfield$300K
May 6, 1960Tornado–$250K
May 20, 1975Tornado–$250K
Nov 15, 1988Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 15, 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 Greene County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
7.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 77 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $1.2 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 Greene County

$95,200median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1957median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.3%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; 5,785 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
Macoupin CountyLow7
Morgan CountyLow15
Jersey CountyVery Low18
Pike CountyVery Low23
Scott CountyVery Low16
Calhoun CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Greene County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Greene County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Greene County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Greene County had?

Greene County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2019.

Is Greene County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 94th 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 Greene County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Greene 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 Greene County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Greene County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 1, 1983. The weather service has also logged 58 hail reports and 15 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.