Hardin County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hardin County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 98th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $3.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $987 per resident. Since 1997 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2011 (severe storms and flooding). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $210,000 on 16 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Hardin 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.
- 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 | 15.5 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 69.0 | $631K | ||
| Tornado | 31.3 | $467K | ||
| Strong wind | 36.5 | $313K | ||
| Cold wave | 19.3 | $179K | ||
| Heat wave | 34.5 | $147K | ||
| Drought | 46.5 | $97K | ||
| Lightning | 17.1 | $50K | ||
| Hail | 16.4 | $48K | ||
| Ice storm | 40.7 | $46K | ||
| Winter weather | 24.2 | $19K | ||
| Hurricane | 25.2 | $8K | ||
| Wildfire | 5.3 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 32.0 | $307 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Hardin 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 1959
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 87 storm reports in Hardin County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $805,030 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on September 7, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 7, 1990 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 5, 2000 | F0 | Cave In Rock | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 2016 | EF0 | Loves Store | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 1959 | n/a | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Cave In Rock | $150K |
| May 26, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Karbers Ridge | $80K |
| Mar 1, 2018 | Flood | Cave In Rock | $70K |
| Jun 8, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $50K |
| May 31, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cave In Rock | $50K |
| Mar 18, 2008 | Flood | Cave In Rock | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 19, 2025. 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 Hardin 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 Hardin 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; 2,337 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Saline County | 7 | |
| Union County, KY | 26 | |
| Crittenden County, KY | 26 | |
| Livingston County, KY | 27 | |
| Gallatin County | 9 | |
| Pope County | 10 |
Common questions about Hardin County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hardin County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hardin County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $630,938.
How many federal disasters has Hardin County had?
Hardin County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1997, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2011.
Is Hardin County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 98th 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 Hardin County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Hardin 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 Hardin County had?
NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Hardin County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on September 7, 1990. The weather service has also logged 14 hail reports and 33 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.