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Richland County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
62nd of 102highest risk in Illinois
$12Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Richland County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 62nd of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $776 per resident. Since 1990 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2011 (severe winter storm and snowstorm). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $199,000 on 25 claims here.

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

Top risks in Richland County

$4.2 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.
$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 155 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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 floodingLow41.3
$4M
EarthquakeLow89.6
$4M
TornadoLow52.4
$1M
DroughtModerate77.3
$654K
Heat waveLow64.1
$587K
Cold waveLow40.0
$546K
Strong windModerate54.1
$516K
HailLow51.0
$227K
LightningLow26.8
$80K
Ice stormLow46.9
$62K
Winter weatherLow53.2
$59K
HurricaneVery Low38.7
$23K
LandslideVery Low53.6
$1K
WildfireVery Low2.7
$840

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 high 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 Richland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm2
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 1, 2005Record/Near Record SnowEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 22, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & 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 212 storm reports in Richland County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $6.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990.

18tornadoes
46hail reports, largest 2 inches
110damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 2, 1990F4–0 / 0
Feb 25, 1956F2–0 / 0
May 21, 1957F2–0 / 0
Nov 26, 1965F2–5 / 0
Aug 3, 1991F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 25, 1956Tornado–$3M
Aug 3, 1991Tornado–$3M
Mar 15, 1984Tornado–$250K
Jun 2, 1990Tornado–$250K
May 18, 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$100K
Apr 28, 2017Thunderstorm WindNoble$70K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 21, 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 Richland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$198,525paid on 25 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $144,115 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 Richland County

$112,000median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.1%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; 7,363 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
Crawford CountyVery Low7
Wayne CountyVery Low6
Lawrence CountyLow7
Clay CountyVery Low3
Wabash CountyVery Low8
Jasper CountyVery Low7
Edwards CountyVery Low5

Common questions about Richland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Richland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Richland County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $4.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Richland County had?

Richland County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1990, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm in March 2011.

Is Richland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 62nd 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 Richland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Richland 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 Richland County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Richland County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 2, 1990. The weather service has also logged 46 hail reports and 37 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.