Henry County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Henry County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $494 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and floodng). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (110 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 238 claims here, including $564,000 for floods in 2010.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Henry 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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 | 51.5 | $9M | ||
| Strong wind | 96.8 | $5M | ||
| Tornado | 70.4 | $3M | ||
| Drought | 90.6 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 62.1 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 70.2 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 76.9 | $943K | ||
| Earthquake | 58.1 | $519K | ||
| Lightning | 59.6 | $416K | ||
| Ice storm | 69.0 | $263K | ||
| Winter weather | 64.5 | $133K | ||
| Hurricane | 19.3 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 64.4 | $5K | ||
| Wildfire | 7.1 | $3K |
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 low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Henry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Illinois also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 674 storm reports in Henry County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 16 injuries and about $120 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 19, 1996 near Bishop Hill.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1996 | F3 | Bishop Hill | 4 / 0 |
| Apr 21, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1956 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 26, 1959 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 28, 1962 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $75M |
| Apr 19, 1996 | Tornado | Bishop Hill | $10M |
| Apr 19, 1996 | Tornado | Galva | $10M |
| Apr 30, 2003 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $10M |
| May 13, 2010 | Flash Flood | Green Rock | $5M |
| Apr 21, 1973 | Tornado | – | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Henry 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 Henry 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; 22,210 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Island County | 13 | |
| Whiteside County | 12 | |
| Knox County | 9 | |
| Bureau County | 15 | |
| Mercer County | 13 | |
| Stark County | 6 |
Common questions about Henry County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Henry County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Henry County, about $8.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $4.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Henry County had?
Henry County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng in September 2024.
Is Henry County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Henry County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Henry 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 Henry County had?
NOAA records list 72 tornadoes in Henry County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 19, 1996 near Bishop Hill. The weather service has also logged 217 hail reports and 59 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.