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McLean County, Illinois

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
15th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$81Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

McLean County, Illinois has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 87% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $81 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $476 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2011 (severe winter storm and snowstorm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (112 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 188 claims here.

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

Top risks in McLean County

$33.5 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.
$26.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Moderate
$8.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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 floodingModerate85.2
$33M
Cold waveHigh98.1
$26M
TornadoModerate89.6
$9M
EarthquakeLow82.3
$3M
DroughtHigh93.0
$3M
Heat waveModerate85.2
$3M
HailModerate88.3
$2M
Strong windModerate81.8
$2M
LightningModerate57.4
$386K
Winter weatherHigh85.3
$358K
Ice stormModerate71.6
$302K
HurricaneVery Low32.5
$22K
WildfireVery Low8.9
$4K
LandslideVery Low49.2
$2K

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 very 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 McLean County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm3
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 17, 2001Illinois Winter Snow StormsEmergency
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
Mar 6, 1990Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1974TornadoesMajor 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 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 794 storm reports in McLean County since 1950, with 1 death and 20 injuries and about $42.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 19, 1996 near Mc Lean.

123tornadoes
245hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
368damaging thunderstorm winds
52floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 19, 1996F3Mc Lean0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F3–0 / 0
Apr 13, 1981F2–0 / 0
Aug 24, 1982F2–0 / 0
Sep 29, 1986F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 25, 2021Flash FloodStanford$12M
Aug 9, 2012Thunderstorm WindDanvers$4M
Apr 13, 1981Tornado–$3M
Aug 24, 1982Tornado–$3M
Aug 24, 1982Tornado–$3M
Aug 24, 1982Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 McLean County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (112 policies)
13.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 188 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $299,344 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 McLean County

$208,400median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.6%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; 75,305 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
Champaign CountyModerate10
Tazewell CountyModerate13
Woodford CountyVery Low12
Livingston CountyLow9
Logan CountyLow10
Piatt CountyVery Low7
De Witt CountyVery Low9
Ford CountyVery Low6

Cities in McLean County

Common questions about McLean County

What is the biggest natural hazard in McLean County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in McLean County, about $33.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $26.4 million.

How many federal disasters has McLean County had?

McLean County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm in March 2011.

Is McLean County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 15th 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 McLean County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in McLean 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 McLean County had?

NOAA records list 123 tornadoes in McLean County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 19, 1996 near Mc Lean. The weather service has also logged 245 hail reports and 52 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.