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LaSalle County, Illinois

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
16th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$61Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

LaSalle County, Illinois has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $61 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $553 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in November 2013 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (222 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $13 million on 680 claims here.

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

Top risks in LaSalle County

$33.1 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.
$14.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Moderate
$5 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 floodingModerate88.2
$33M
Cold waveHigh96.5
$15M
TornadoModerate84.1
$5M
EarthquakeLow82.4
$2M
Strong windHigh85.5
$2M
DroughtModerate88.0
$1M
Heat waveLow69.7
$909K
LightningModerate71.2
$527K
HailLow61.9
$412K
Ice stormModerate61.9
$149K
Winter weatherModerate69.9
$131K
HurricaneVery Low30.3
$15K
WildfireVery Low21.3
$8K
LandslideLow69.0
$5K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included LaSalle County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Snowstorm5
Severe Storm4
Tornado2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Nov 26, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 3, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2006SnowEmergency
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 23, 2004Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 17, 2001Illinois Winter Snow StormsEmergency
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
Show all 18
Jul 25, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 15, 1992FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1979Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 1967TornadoesMajor disaster

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 749 storm reports in LaSalle County since 1955, with 11 deaths and 93 injuries and about $99.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 20, 2004 near Peru.

67tornadoes
175hail reports, largest 3.75 inches
403damaging thunderstorm winds
79floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 20, 2004F3Peru7 / 8
Feb 28, 2017EF3Utica Airpark Arpt14 / 2
Jun 11, 2026EF3Streator7 / 0
Jun 5, 2010EF2East Wenona17 / 0
Nov 12, 1965F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 18, 2013Flash FloodLake Holiday$75M
Jun 5, 2010TornadoEast Wenona$7M
Sep 14, 2008Flash FloodGarfield$5M
Sep 15, 2008FloodSeneca$5M
Jul 12, 2021Flash FloodSeneca$1M
Aug 24, 2007FloodWedron$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 LaSalle County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (222 policies)
20.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$12.7 millionpaid on 680 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $3.7 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 LaSalle County

$161,900median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.2%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; 49,843 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
Kendall CountyLow11
DeKalb CountyLow10
Grundy CountyLow13
Woodford CountyVery Low12
Livingston CountyLow9
Lee CountyLow8
Bureau CountyLow15
Marshall CountyVery Low12

Common questions about LaSalle County

What is the biggest natural hazard in LaSalle County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in LaSalle County, about $33.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $14.9 million.

How many federal disasters has LaSalle County had?

LaSalle County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in November 2013.

Is LaSalle County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 16th 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 LaSalle County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in LaSalle 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 LaSalle County had?

NOAA records list 67 tornadoes in LaSalle County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 20, 2004 near Peru. The weather service has also logged 175 hail reports and 79 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.