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Iroquois County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
29th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$34Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 50homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Iroquois County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $34 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,253 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2008 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 50 homes here carry federal flood insurance (255 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $17 million on 840 claims here, including $7.2 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 Iroquois County

$19.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$10 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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 floodingModerate79.6
$20M
Cold waveHigh93.6
$10M
TornadoLow57.2
$2M
EarthquakeLow71.1
$891K
Strong windLow46.4
$514K
HailLow66.8
$508K
Heat waveLow44.0
$289K
LightningLow33.1
$128K
Winter weatherLow26.9
$27K
Ice stormVery Low26.2
$26K
HurricaneVery Low30.6
$15K
DroughtVery Low22.6
$8K
WildfireVery Low3.5
$1K
LandslideVery Low38.5
$610

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 Iroquois County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm2
Snowstorm2
Severe Ice Storm1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 7, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 17, 2001Illinois Winter Snow StormsEmergency
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
Apr 26, 1994Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 6, 1990Severe Ice StormMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 437 storm reports in Iroquois County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 15 injuries and about $17.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 15, 1968.

64tornadoes
78hail reports, largest 3 inches
237damaging thunderstorm winds
51floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 15, 1968F3–0 / 0
Mar 6, 1956F3–6 / 0
May 31, 1954F2–2 / 0
Jun 22, 1990F2–0 / 0
Jun 17, 1992F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 8, 2008FloodChebanse$3M
May 15, 1968Tornado–$3M
Oct 3, 1990Tornado–$3M
Mar 22, 1991Tornado–$3M
Feb 20, 2018FloodPapineau$2M
Feb 4, 2008Flash FloodLa Hogue$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Iroquois County

Check your address flood zone ›
2%of homes have federal flood insurance (255 policies)
16.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$16.8 millionpaid on 840 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $7.2 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 Iroquois County

$137,800median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1960median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
78%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.9%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; 12,789 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
Kankakee CountyModerate5
Vermilion CountyLow10
Newton County, INVery Low17
Ford CountyVery Low6
Benton County, INVery Low19

Common questions about Iroquois County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Iroquois County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Iroquois County, about $19.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $10 million.

How many federal disasters has Iroquois County had?

Iroquois County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in March 2008.

Is Iroquois County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 29th 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 Iroquois County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 50 homes in Iroquois 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 Iroquois County had?

NOAA records list 64 tornadoes in Iroquois County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 15, 1968. The weather service has also logged 78 hail reports and 51 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.