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Massac County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
44th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$19Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 48homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

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

Earthquake

Moderate
$8.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 100 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$4.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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
EarthquakeModerate93.6
$8M
Inland floodingLow43.0
$4M
TornadoModerate66.5
$2M
Heat waveLow72.8
$858K
Strong windModerate69.6
$799K
Cold waveLow49.5
$767K
DroughtModerate77.0
$639K
Ice stormModerate79.7
$331K
LightningLow51.2
$202K
HailLow40.9
$153K
Winter weatherModerate61.4
$79K
HurricaneVery Low31.6
$13K
WildfireVery Low7.6
$2K
LandslideVery Low42.3
$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

Severe Storm4
Flood2
Tornado2
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Nov 26, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 1, 2005Record/Near Record SnowEmergency
May 15, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

18tornadoes
52hail reports, largest 3 inches
124damaging thunderstorm winds
87floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 6, 2003F4Hillerman20 / 1
Nov 17, 2013EF3Brookport33 / 3
Sep 22, 2006F3Metropolis Muni Arpt2 / 0
May 25, 2011EF2Hillerman0 / 0
May 6, 2003F2Metropolis0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 6, 2003TornadoHillerman$10M
Nov 17, 2013TornadoBrookport$6M
May 1, 2011FloodBrookport$2M
Feb 10, 2019FloodJoppa$750K
Sep 22, 2006TornadoMetropolis Muni Arpt$500K
Mar 18, 2008FloodBig 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 ›
2.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (134 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.4 millionpaid on 110 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $1.5 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 Massac County

$121,900median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.4%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; 6,822 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
McCracken County, KYModerate21
Johnson CountyLow5
Livingston County, KYVery Low27
Pulaski CountyLow12
Pope CountyVery Low10

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.