Massac County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Massac County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 44th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,311 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in November 2013 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). About 1 in 48 homes here carry federal flood insurance (134 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.4 million on 110 claims here, including $1.5 million for floods in 2011.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Massac County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 93.6 | $8M | ||
| Inland flooding | 43.0 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 66.5 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 72.8 | $858K | ||
| Strong wind | 69.6 | $799K | ||
| Cold wave | 49.5 | $767K | ||
| Drought | 77.0 | $639K | ||
| Ice storm | 79.7 | $331K | ||
| Lightning | 51.2 | $202K | ||
| Hail | 40.9 | $153K | ||
| Winter weather | 61.4 | $79K | ||
| Hurricane | 31.6 | $13K | ||
| Wildfire | 7.6 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 42.3 | $645 |
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 high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Massac County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Illinois also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1979
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 298 storm reports in Massac County since 1979, with 5 deaths and 70 injuries and about $24.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 6, 2003 near Hillerman.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2003 | F4 | Hillerman | 20 / 1 |
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF3 | Brookport | 33 / 3 |
| Sep 22, 2006 | F3 | Metropolis Muni Arpt | 2 / 0 |
| May 25, 2011 | EF2 | Hillerman | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 2003 | F2 | Metropolis | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2003 | Tornado | Hillerman | $10M |
| Nov 17, 2013 | Tornado | Brookport | $6M |
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Brookport | $2M |
| Feb 10, 2019 | Flood | Joppa | $750K |
| Sep 22, 2006 | Tornado | Metropolis Muni Arpt | $500K |
| Mar 18, 2008 | Flood | Big Bay | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 2025. 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 Massac 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 Massac 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; 6,822 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 |
|---|---|---|
| McCracken County, KY | 21 | |
| Johnson County | 5 | |
| Livingston County, KY | 27 | |
| Pulaski County | 12 | |
| Pope County | 10 |
Common questions about Massac County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Massac County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Massac County, about $8.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Massac County had?
Massac County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in November 2013.
Is Massac County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 44th 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 Massac County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 48 homes in Massac 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 Massac County had?
NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Massac County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 6, 2003 near Hillerman. The weather service has also logged 52 hail reports and 87 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.