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Sangamon County, Illinois

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
9th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$115Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sangamon County, Illinois has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $115 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $585 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (167 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.7 million on 293 claims here.

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

Top risks in Sangamon County

$46.7 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.
$19.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$15.8 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate91.2
$47M
TornadoHigh97.1
$20M
Cold waveHigh96.6
$16M
EarthquakeModerate94.6
$14M
Heat waveModerate96.2
$8M
HailHigh95.6
$4M
DroughtHigh95.9
$3M
Strong windHigh86.4
$2M
LightningHigh88.5
$1M
Ice stormModerate80.6
$458K
Winter weatherHigh90.7
$453K
HurricaneVery Low41.4
$35K
WildfireVery Low18.8
$7K
LandslideLow63.1
$4K

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 low 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 Sangamon County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Snowstorm2
Flood1
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 28, 2006Tornadoes and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
May 6, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1994Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 976 storm reports in Sangamon County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 181 injuries and about $80.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 14, 1957.

93tornadoes
319hail reports, largest 3.25 inches
473damaging thunderstorm winds
81floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 14, 1957F4–50 / 2
Apr 22, 1963F3–5 / 1
Aug 19, 2009EF3Williamsville17 / 0
Aug 6, 1977F3–0 / 0
Aug 19, 2009EF2Prouty3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 17, 2011Flash FloodBerlin$13M
Aug 28, 2014Flash FloodSpringfield Arp$12M
Aug 19, 2009TornadoWilliamsville$11M
May 26, 2010Flash FloodGrandview$10M
May 27, 2002HailAuburn$9M
Aug 19, 2009TornadoProuty$4M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Sangamon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (167 policies)
18.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.7 millionpaid on 293 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $595,517 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 Sangamon County

$176,300median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.9%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; 93,382 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
Macon CountyModerate9
Macoupin CountyLow7
Christian CountyLow6
Morgan CountyLow15
Montgomery CountyLow5
Logan CountyLow10
Cass CountyVery Low19
Menard CountyVery Low10

Cities in Sangamon County

Common questions about Sangamon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sangamon County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sangamon County, about $46.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $19.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Sangamon County had?

Sangamon County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in August 2023.

Is Sangamon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 9th 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 Sangamon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Sangamon 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 Sangamon County had?

NOAA records list 93 tornadoes in Sangamon County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 14, 1957. The weather service has also logged 319 hail reports and 81 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.