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Hardin County, Illinois

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

Very Low overall risk
98th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$4Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$630,938 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 135 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$466,652 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low15.5
$2M
EarthquakeLow69.0
$631K
TornadoLow31.3
$467K
Strong windLow36.5
$313K
Cold waveVery Low19.3
$179K
Heat waveVery Low34.5
$147K
DroughtLow46.5
$97K
LightningVery Low17.1
$50K
HailVery Low16.4
$48K
Ice stormLow40.7
$46K
Winter weatherVery Low24.2
$19K
HurricaneVery Low25.2
$8K
WildfireVery Low5.3
$1K
LandslideVery Low32.0
$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

Severe Storm3
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 7, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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

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.

4tornadoes
14hail reports, largest 2 inches
31damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 7, 1990F1–0 / 0
Oct 5, 2000F0Cave In Rock0 / 0
May 10, 2016EF0Loves Store0 / 0
Jun 10, 1959n/a–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodCave In Rock$150K
May 26, 2004Thunderstorm WindKarbers Ridge$80K
Mar 1, 2018FloodCave In Rock$70K
Jun 8, 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$50K
May 31, 2008Thunderstorm WindCave In Rock$50K
Mar 18, 2008FloodCave 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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
3.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$209,904paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $150,675 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 Hardin County

$103,800median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.2%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; 2,337 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
Saline CountyLow7
Union County, KYVery Low26
Crittenden County, KYVery Low26
Livingston County, KYVery Low27
Gallatin CountyVery Low9
Pope CountyVery Low10

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.