Madison County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Madison County, Illinois has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 93% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $155 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $583 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2021 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (824 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.0 million on 1,087 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Madison 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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 | 92.3 | $56M | ||
| Earthquake | 97.1 | $35M | ||
| Tornado | 97.6 | $23M | ||
| Heat wave | 98.0 | $17M | ||
| Cold wave | 95.8 | $15M | ||
| Hail | 97.2 | $5M | ||
| Lightning | 93.2 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 60.8 | $836K | ||
| Winter weather | 90.8 | $481K | ||
| Drought | 63.2 | $383K | ||
| Ice storm | 75.1 | $327K | ||
| Landslide | 85.6 | $36K | ||
| Hurricane | 32.7 | $20K | ||
| Wildfire | 14.8 | $6K |
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 Madison 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 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 853 storm reports in Madison County since 1950, with 6 deaths and 69 injuries and about $98.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1981.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1981 | F4 | – | 32 / 0 |
| Feb 10, 1959 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 10, 2021 | EF3 | Mitchell | 1 / 6 |
| May 1, 1983 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Dec 2, 1950 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1981 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 1, 1983 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 2, 2019 | Flood | Clifton Terrace | $25M |
| Dec 10, 2021 | Tornado | Mitchell | $5M |
| Apr 10, 2001 | Tornado | Granite City | $5M |
| Dec 2, 1950 | Tornado | – | $3M |
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 Madison 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 Madison 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; 119,168 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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County, MO | 32 | |
| St. Charles County, MO | 26 | |
| St. Louis City, MO | 23 | |
| St. Clair County | 17 | |
| Macoupin County | 7 | |
| Clinton County | 5 | |
| Montgomery County | 5 | |
| Jersey County | 18 |
Cities in Madison County
Common questions about Madison County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Madison County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Madison County, about $56.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $35.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Madison County had?
Madison County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in December 2021.
Is Madison County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 7th 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 Madison County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Madison 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 Madison County had?
NOAA records list 67 tornadoes in Madison County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1981. The weather service has also logged 324 hail reports and 37 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.