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Pike County, Illinois

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

Very Low overall risk
80th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$10Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pike County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 80th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $9.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $655 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (88 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.2 million on 335 claims here, including $5.4 million for floods in 1993.

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

Top risks in Pike County

$3.8 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.
$1.4 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low33.7
$4M
Cold waveLow61.3
$1M
Heat waveLow77.2
$1M
DroughtModerate81.8
$1M
Strong windModerate60.4
$720K
TornadoLow33.0
$597K
HailLow50.1
$256K
EarthquakeVery Low47.7
$241K
LightningLow51.1
$238K
Winter weatherLow25.6
$23K
LandslideLow82.0
$21K
Ice stormVery Low19.3
$15K
HurricaneVery Low24.9
$9K
WildfireVery Low1.0
$400

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood10
Severe Storm6
Tornado3
Snowstorm3
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
Aug 19, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2006SnowEmergency
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 15, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 2001FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
May 30, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 1969Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 1965Tornadoes, Severe 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 322 storm reports in Pike County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 5 injuries and about $22.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 14, 1961.

34tornadoes
92hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
172damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 14, 1961F3–0 / 0
Apr 24, 1961F3–0 / 0
Jun 14, 1957F2–1 / 0
Jun 19, 1956F2–0 / 0
Jun 10, 1957F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 3, 2008FloodEast Hannibal$18M
May 14, 1961Tornado–$3M
Oct 1, 2014LightningPerry$1M
Jun 14, 1957Tornado–$250K
Apr 24, 1961Tornado–$250K
Feb 11, 1999TornadoBeecreek$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 8, 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 Pike County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (88 policies)
9.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.2 millionpaid on 335 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $5.4 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 Pike County

$101,400median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 7,273 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
Adams CountyLow19
Morgan CountyLow15
Marion County, MOLow23
Pike County, MOVery Low24
Greene CountyVery Low17
Ralls County, MOVery Low24
Brown CountyVery Low14
Scott CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Pike County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pike County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pike County, about $3.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Pike County had?

Pike County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in August 2023.

Is Pike County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 80th 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 Pike County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Pike 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 Pike County had?

NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Pike County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 14, 1961. The weather service has also logged 92 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.