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Henderson County, Illinois

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

Very Low overall risk
91st of 102highest risk in Illinois
$5Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 48homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Henderson County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 91st of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and hail. FEMA estimates about $4.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $769 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2019 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 48 homes here carry federal flood insurance (75 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $12 million on 412 claims here, including $7.6 million for floods in 2008.

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

Top risks in Henderson County

$2.1 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.

Drought

Moderate
$698,710 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Hail

Moderate
$505,699 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low24.7
$2M
DroughtModerate80.3
$699K
HailModerate74.5
$506K
Strong windModerate56.7
$490K
TornadoLow28.6
$340K
Heat waveLow52.2
$307K
Cold waveLow24.0
$225K
LightningLow33.2
$91K
EarthquakeVery Low27.6
$43K
Ice stormLow40.2
$39K
Winter weatherVery Low22.5
$15K
HurricaneVery Low13.6
$2K
LandslideVery Low56.6
$2K
WildfireVery Low1.7
$480

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 high 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 Henderson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Snowstorm3
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Sep 19, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 9, 2001FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 17, 2001Illinois Winter Snow StormsEmergency
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 1969Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 224 storm reports in Henderson County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $20.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on January 24, 1967.

13tornadoes
66hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
90damaging thunderstorm winds
53floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 24, 1967F2–0 / 0
Apr 19, 1996F1Bald Bluff0 / 0
May 11, 1993F1Stronghurst0 / 0
Jul 16, 2015EF1Lone Tree0 / 0
Jun 29, 1998F1Bald Bluff0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 8, 2003HailGladstone$10M
Apr 19, 1996TornadoBald Bluff$4M
Apr 19, 1996TornadoOquawka$4M
May 4, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Apr 29, 1984Tornado–$250K
May 8, 2003HailGladstone$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 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 Henderson County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (75 policies)
32.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11.5 millionpaid on 412 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $7.6 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 Henderson County

$104,400median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.1%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; 3,366 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
Des Moines County, IALow25
Lee County, IALow20
McDonough CountyVery Low9
Hancock CountyVery Low17
Warren CountyVery Low7
Mercer CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Henderson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Henderson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Henderson County, about $2.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $698,710.

How many federal disasters has Henderson County had?

Henderson County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2019.

Is Henderson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 91st 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 Henderson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 48 homes in Henderson 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 Henderson County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Henderson County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on January 24, 1967. The weather service has also logged 66 hail reports and 53 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.