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Madison County, Illinois

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
7th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$155Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$56.2 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
$35.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 180 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$23.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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 floodingModerate92.3
$56M
EarthquakeModerate97.1
$35M
TornadoHigh97.6
$23M
Heat waveHigh98.0
$17M
Cold waveHigh95.8
$15M
HailHigh97.2
$5M
LightningHigh93.2
$2M
Strong windModerate60.8
$836K
Winter weatherHigh90.8
$481K
DroughtLow63.2
$383K
Ice stormModerate75.1
$327K
LandslideLow85.6
$36K
HurricaneVery Low32.7
$20K
WildfireVery Low14.8
$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

Flood5
Severe Storm5
Tornado2
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Dec 13, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesEmergency
Sep 19, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1983Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 1969Heavy Rains & 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 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.

67tornadoes
324hail reports, largest 3.75 inches
418damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1981F4–32 / 0
Feb 10, 1959F4–0 / 0
Dec 10, 2021EF3Mitchell1 / 6
May 1, 1983F3–3 / 0
Dec 2, 1950F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1981Tornado–$25M
May 1, 1983Tornado–$25M
Jun 2, 2019FloodClifton Terrace$25M
Dec 10, 2021TornadoMitchell$5M
Apr 10, 2001TornadoGranite City$5M
Dec 2, 1950Tornado–$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 ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (824 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8 millionpaid on 1,087 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $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 Madison County

$173,000median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.2%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; 119,168 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
St. Louis County, MOHigh32
St. Charles County, MOModerate26
St. Louis City, MOHigh23
St. Clair CountyHigh17
Macoupin CountyLow7
Clinton CountyLow5
Montgomery CountyLow5
Jersey CountyVery Low18

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.