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Montgomery County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
40th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$22Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Montgomery County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 65% of US counties. It ranks 40th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $783 per resident. Since 2002 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2021 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $288,000 on 22 claims here.

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

Top risks in Montgomery County

$7.7 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
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 225 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow58.7
$8M
EarthquakeModerate90.4
$5M
Cold waveModerate75.3
$2M
TornadoModerate71.5
$2M
Strong windHigh84.4
$1M
Heat waveModerate79.4
$1M
DroughtModerate79.9
$837K
HailModerate74.8
$622K
LightningModerate56.8
$270K
Winter weatherLow54.3
$67K
Ice stormLow37.6
$42K
HurricaneVery Low42.1
$32K
LandslideLow70.5
$6K
WildfireVery Low13.6
$4K

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 Montgomery County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Tornado2
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Dec 13, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesEmergency
Oct 3, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and 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 420 storm reports in Montgomery County since 1950, with 3 deaths and 18 injuries and about $2.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 1, 1999 near Raymond.

55tornadoes
137hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
202damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 1, 1999F3Raymond4 / 1
Jan 3, 1950F3–3 / 0
Mar 20, 1976F3–4 / 0
May 29, 1982F3–0 / 0
May 12, 1978F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 3, 1950Tornado–$250K
Mar 6, 1961Tornado–$250K
Mar 6, 1961Tornado–$250K
Mar 20, 1976Tornado–$250K
May 12, 1978Tornado–$250K
May 29, 1982Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Montgomery County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$288,054paid on 22 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $146,691 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 Montgomery County

$112,300median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
71%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.1%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; 12,495 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
Madison CountyModerate14
Sangamon CountyModerate10
Macoupin CountyLow7
Christian CountyLow6
Fayette CountyLow6
Shelby CountyLow8
Bond CountyVery Low5

Common questions about Montgomery County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Montgomery County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Montgomery County, about $7.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $5 million.

How many federal disasters has Montgomery County had?

Montgomery County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2002, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in December 2021.

Is Montgomery County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 40th 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 Montgomery County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Montgomery County had?

NOAA records list 55 tornadoes in Montgomery County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 1, 1999 near Raymond. The weather service has also logged 137 hail reports and 22 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.