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Schuyler County, Illinois

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

Very Low overall risk
95th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$4Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Schuyler County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 95th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $590 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2019 (severe storms and flooding). Only 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $327,000 on 93 claims here.

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

Top risks in Schuyler County

$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$875,320 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$603,926 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow61.3
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low8.2
$875K
Strong windModerate61.5
$604K
Heat waveLow55.1
$376K
TornadoLow27.6
$340K
HailLow58.0
$279K
DroughtLow61.5
$245K
EarthquakeVery Low35.5
$90K
LightningVery Low19.1
$52K
Ice stormVery Low19.7
$13K
LandslideLow79.4
$12K
Winter weatherVery Low17.1
$11K
HurricaneVery Low15.5
$3K
WildfireVery Low0.3
$91

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm6
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

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
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 15, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
May 6, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1981Severe Storms, Flooding & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & 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 217 storm reports in Schuyler County since 1957, with 1 death and 17 injuries and about $15.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1981.

21tornadoes
55hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
102damaging thunderstorm winds
38floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 21, 1981F3–12 / 1
Nov 27, 1990F2–0 / 0
Mar 8, 1990F2–0 / 0
Mar 14, 1957F2–0 / 0
May 10, 2003F2Rushville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 18, 1999HailRushville$5M
Jun 21, 1981Tornado–$3M
Aug 12, 1999Thunderstorm WindHuntsville$2M
Apr 17, 2013Flash FloodBader$2M
Mar 27, 1998Thunderstorm WindCamden$1M
Jul 28, 2010Flash FloodRay$370K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 Schuyler County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
16%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$326,830paid on 93 flood claims since 1978
1995costliest year, with $84,300 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 Schuyler County

$109,700median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.6%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; 3,306 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
Fulton CountyLow18
McDonough CountyVery Low9
Hancock CountyVery Low17
Mason CountyLow16
Cass CountyVery Low19
Brown CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Schuyler County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Schuyler County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Schuyler County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $875,320.

How many federal disasters has Schuyler County had?

Schuyler County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2019.

Is Schuyler County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 95th 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 Schuyler County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Schuyler 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 Schuyler County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Schuyler County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1981. The weather service has also logged 55 hail reports and 38 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.