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Mason County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
65th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$12Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Mason County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 57% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and drought. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $942 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2013 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.4 million on 452 claims here.

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

Top risks in Mason County

$5.5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.8 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.2
$6M
Cold waveModerate68.6
$2M
DroughtModerate86.9
$1M
TornadoLow52.1
$1M
Strong windModerate73.8
$985K
EarthquakeLow63.8
$510K
Heat waveLow57.4
$473K
HailLow63.7
$392K
Ice stormLow45.5
$63K
LightningVery Low16.8
$52K
Winter weatherLow29.5
$26K
HurricaneVery Low23.2
$7K
WildfireVery Low1.6
$584
LandslideVery Low36.9
$480

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 Mason County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm3
Tornado2
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2006SnowEmergency
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 15, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
May 30, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1994Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Mar 29, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1968Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 274 storm reports in Mason County since 1951, with 1 death and 35 injuries and about $25.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on January 24, 1967.

42tornadoes
56hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
153damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 24, 1967F3–3 / 1
May 15, 1968F3–25 / 0
Nov 29, 1975F2–0 / 0
Nov 13, 1951F2–0 / 0
Mar 14, 1957F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 12, 1999Thunderstorm WindBath$12M
Apr 18, 2013FloodHavana$5M
May 15, 1968Tornado–$3M
Apr 13, 1981Tornado–$3M
Jun 1, 1999TornadoHavana$500K
Apr 15, 2011TornadoPoplar City$300K

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 Mason County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
10.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.4 millionpaid on 452 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $947,626 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 Mason County

$103,400median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
82%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; 6,622 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
Tazewell CountyModerate13
Fulton CountyLow18
Logan CountyLow10
Cass CountyVery Low19
Menard CountyVery Low10
Schuyler CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Mason County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mason County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mason County, about $5.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Mason County had?

Mason County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in May 2013.

Is Mason County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 65th 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 Mason County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Mason 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 Mason County had?

NOAA records list 42 tornadoes in Mason County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on January 24, 1967. The weather service has also logged 56 hail reports and 21 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.