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Saline County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
36th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$20Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Saline County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 70% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $861 per resident. Since 1996 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2011 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (82 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $487,000 on 28 claims here.

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

Top risks in Saline County

Earthquake

Moderate
$7.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 120 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$5.9 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
EarthquakeModerate94.1
$8M
Inland floodingLow57.4
$6M
TornadoModerate68.5
$2M
Cold waveModerate69.6
$1M
Strong windHigh88.6
$1M
Heat waveLow78.5
$992K
DroughtModerate67.0
$307K
HailLow54.9
$229K
Ice stormModerate71.5
$169K
LightningLow46.8
$148K
Winter weatherModerate77.5
$130K
HurricaneVery Low43.5
$29K
LandslideLow72.4
$5K
WildfireVery Low8.6
$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 very high 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 Saline County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 7, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor 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

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 317 storm reports in Saline County since 1957, with 9 deaths and 105 injuries and about $37.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on February 29, 2012 near Carriers Mills.

18tornadoes
79hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
144damaging thunderstorm winds
61floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 29, 2012EF4Carriers Mills95 / 8
Apr 28, 2002F2Galatia3 / 0
Apr 3, 2018EF2Banlick0 / 0
Mar 6, 1961F2–2 / 0
Jan 10, 1975F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 18, 2008FloodGalatia$17M
May 8, 2009Thunderstorm WindNewhope$5M
Apr 28, 2002TornadoGalatia$4M
Feb 29, 2012TornadoCarriers Mills$2M
Apr 28, 1996Flash FloodHarrisburg$2M
May 10, 1996Flash FloodHarrisburg$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 27, 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 Saline County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (82 policies)
11.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$486,752paid on 28 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $199,325 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 Saline County

$94,300median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.6%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; 11,547 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
Williamson CountyModerate7
Franklin CountyLow8
Johnson CountyLow5
Hamilton CountyVery Low8
Gallatin CountyVery Low9
Pope CountyVery Low10
Hardin CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Saline County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Saline County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Saline County, about $7.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $5.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Saline County had?

Saline County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1996, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2011.

Is Saline County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 36th 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 Saline County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Saline 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 Saline County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Saline County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on February 29, 2012 near Carriers Mills. The weather service has also logged 79 hail reports and 61 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.