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Randolph County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$35Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Randolph County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 79% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $35 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,174 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2019 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (130 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.7 million on 182 claims here, including $1.6 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 Randolph County

Earthquake

Moderate
$14.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 135 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$7.5 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.6 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
EarthquakeModerate95.5
$15M
Inland floodingLow57.8
$8M
TornadoModerate80.1
$4M
Strong windHigh94.7
$3M
Heat waveModerate89.2
$3M
Cold waveModerate75.5
$2M
HailModerate82.0
$893K
LightningLow53.6
$239K
Winter weatherModerate83.5
$223K
DroughtLow57.3
$212K
Ice stormLow49.7
$75K
HurricaneVery Low44.4
$39K
LandslideLow85.1
$27K
WildfireVery Low6.2
$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 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 Randolph County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood6
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 19, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 28, 2006Tornadoes and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1983Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
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

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 427 storm reports in Randolph County since 1950, with 1 death and 14 injuries and about $10.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on December 18, 1957.

45tornadoes
173hail reports, largest 4 inches
182damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 18, 1957F3–0 / 0
Dec 21, 1967F3–2 / 0
Dec 18, 1957F3–0 / 0
Dec 18, 1957F3–0 / 0
Apr 5, 1985F2–3 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 24, 2021TornadoPujol$3M
Mar 6, 1961Tornado–$3M
Apr 5, 1985Tornado–$3M
Apr 28, 1994TornadoRuma To$505K
Apr 5, 1985Tornado–$250K
Mar 18, 1952Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Randolph County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (130 policies)
30.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.7 millionpaid on 182 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $1.6 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 Randolph County

$135,100median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.9%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; 13,422 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
St. Clair CountyHigh17
Jackson CountyModerate13
Monroe CountyVery Low18
Perry CountyLow5
Perry County, MOLow27
Ste. Genevieve County, MOLow29
Washington CountyLow7

Common questions about Randolph County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Randolph County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Randolph County, about $14.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $7.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Randolph County had?

Randolph County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2019.

Is Randolph County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Randolph County?

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

NOAA records list 45 tornadoes in Randolph County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on December 18, 1957. The weather service has also logged 173 hail reports and 25 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.