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Macoupin County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
24th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$39Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Macoupin County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $39 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $861 per resident. Since 1982 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2021 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $272,000 on 47 claims here.

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

Top risks in Macoupin County

$11.4 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$10.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 225 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow68.7
$11M
EarthquakeModerate94.1
$11M
Cold waveModerate86.6
$5M
TornadoModerate78.0
$3M
Heat waveModerate91.5
$3M
Strong windHigh91.0
$2M
HailModerate87.8
$1M
LightningHigh88.7
$1M
DroughtModerate67.3
$408K
Winter weatherModerate65.0
$100K
Ice stormLow46.0
$65K
LandslideLow79.0
$13K
HurricaneVery Low24.4
$8K
WildfireVery Low9.3
$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 relatively moderate 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 Macoupin County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm3
Tornado2
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Dec 13, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesEmergency
Oct 3, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1983Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 529 storm reports in Macoupin County since 1950, with 3 deaths and 16 injuries and about $7.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 19, 2011 near Girard.

48tornadoes
234hail reports, largest 3 inches
211damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 19, 2011EF3Girard2 / 0
Dec 2, 1950F2–3 / 1
Jan 24, 1967F2–0 / 0
May 12, 1978F2–1 / 0
May 9, 1990F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2002HailMt Olive$2M
Apr 24, 2002HailGillespie$2M
Apr 24, 2002HailCarlinville$1M
Jan 24, 1967Tornado–$250K
May 12, 1978Tornado–$250K
May 9, 1990Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 Macoupin County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (11 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$272,097paid on 47 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $88,909 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 Macoupin County

$138,200median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.1%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; 21,139 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
Madison CountyModerate14
Sangamon CountyModerate10
Morgan CountyLow15
Montgomery CountyLow5
Jersey CountyVery Low18
Greene CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Macoupin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Macoupin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Macoupin County, about $11.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $10.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Macoupin County had?

Macoupin County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1982, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in December 2021.

Is Macoupin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Macoupin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Macoupin 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 Macoupin County had?

NOAA records list 48 tornadoes in Macoupin County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 19, 2011 near Girard. The weather service has also logged 234 hail reports and 28 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.