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Peoria County, Illinois

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
11th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$85Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Peoria County, Illinois has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 91% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $85 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $466 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2013 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (302 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $24 million on 2,547 claims here.

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

Top risks in Peoria County

$32.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$25 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.
$12.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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
Inland floodingModerate88.7
$32M
Cold waveHigh98.6
$25M
TornadoHigh95.8
$13M
Heat waveModerate92.9
$4M
Strong windHigh95.7
$3M
HailHigh95.3
$3M
EarthquakeLow79.9
$2M
DroughtModerate85.4
$1M
LightningHigh88.6
$1M
Ice stormHigh89.4
$827K
Winter weatherHigh86.4
$288K
LandslideModerate94.8
$115K
HurricaneVery Low30.7
$14K
WildfireVery Low9.8
$3K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Peoria County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Snowstorm5
Severe Storm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 3, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2006SnowEmergency
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 17, 2001Illinois Winter Snow StormsEmergency
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
Mar 29, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Jan 16, 1979Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Jun 10, 1974Severe 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 731 storm reports in Peoria County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 41 injuries and about $260 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 29, 1976.

32tornadoes
238hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
406damaging thunderstorm winds
46floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 29, 1976F4–0 / 0
May 14, 1961F3–0 / 0
Sep 14, 1965F3–30 / 0
Jun 5, 2010EF2Elmwood0 / 0
Mar 15, 2016EF2Trivoli0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 2013Flash FloodSankoty$100M
Jun 5, 2010TornadoElmwood$85M
Jun 24, 2013Flash FloodElmore$30M
May 1, 2013FloodNorth Chillicothe$28M
May 14, 1961Tornado–$3M
Sep 14, 1965Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 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 Peoria County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (302 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$23.5 millionpaid on 2,547 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $6.5 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 Peoria County

$158,500median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.1%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; 84,930 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
Tazewell CountyModerate13
Knox CountyLow9
Woodford CountyVery Low12
Fulton CountyLow18
Marshall CountyVery Low12
Stark CountyVery Low6

Cities in Peoria County

Common questions about Peoria County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Peoria County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Peoria County, about $32.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $25 million.

How many federal disasters has Peoria County had?

Peoria County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in May 2013.

Is Peoria County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 11th 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 Peoria County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Peoria 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 Peoria County had?

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Peoria County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 29, 1976. The weather service has also logged 238 hail reports and 46 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.