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Morgan County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
33rd of 102highest risk in Illinois
$28Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Morgan County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 33rd of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $28 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $865 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (77 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.6 million on 242 claims here, including $637,000 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 Morgan County

$10 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$9 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.
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh94.1
$10M
Inland floodingLow61.2
$9M
DroughtHigh92.9
$2M
EarthquakeLow81.7
$2M
Heat waveModerate83.4
$2M
Strong windHigh87.2
$2M
TornadoLow49.6
$1M
HailLow68.7
$506K
LightningLow52.0
$240K
Ice stormLow59.3
$125K
Winter weatherLow46.3
$54K
HurricaneVery Low21.9
$7K
LandslideLow64.2
$3K
WildfireVery Low1.8
$653

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 Morgan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm2
Tornado2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesEmergency
Sep 19, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Mar 28, 2006Tornadoes and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
May 30, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 376 storm reports in Morgan County since 1955, with 1 death and 13 injuries and about $171 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 24, 1961.

41tornadoes
117hail reports, largest 4 inches
176damaging thunderstorm winds
42floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 24, 1961F3–0 / 0
May 24, 2004F2Jacksonville1 / 0
Apr 19, 1996F2Jacksonville1 / 0
Jun 14, 1957F2–5 / 0
Jun 4, 1973F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 17, 2011Flash FloodMeredosia$150M
Aug 12, 1999Thunderstorm WindConcord$12M
May 24, 2004TornadoJacksonville$4M
May 24, 2004Thunderstorm WindJacksonville$1M
Aug 13, 2011HailPisgah$500K
Aug 19, 2009TornadoMurrayville$495K

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 Morgan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (77 policies)
12.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.6 millionpaid on 242 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $636,906 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 Morgan County

$130,800median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1965median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.8%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; 15,016 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
Sangamon CountyModerate10
Macoupin CountyLow7
Pike CountyVery Low23
Cass CountyVery Low19
Greene CountyVery Low17
Brown CountyVery Low14
Scott CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Morgan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Morgan County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Morgan County, about $10 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $9 million.

How many federal disasters has Morgan County had?

Morgan County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in August 2023.

Is Morgan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 33rd 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 Morgan County?

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

NOAA records list 41 tornadoes in Morgan County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 24, 1961. The weather service has also logged 117 hail reports and 42 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.