Stark County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Stark County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 99th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $843 per resident. Since 1999 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2013 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Stark County
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 11.2 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 78.9 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 47.2 | $596K | ||
| Tornado | 25.7 | $451K | ||
| Cold wave | 24.9 | $377K | ||
| Hail | 29.4 | $136K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.4 | $93K | ||
| Heat wave | 22.6 | $92K | ||
| Ice storm | 31.2 | $41K | ||
| Lightning | 8.7 | $33K | ||
| Winter weather | 7.9 | $7K | ||
| Hurricane | 10.5 | $2K | ||
| Wildfire | 0.8 | $344 | ||
| Landslide | 28.3 | $315 |
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 Stark County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
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 169 storm reports in Stark County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $17.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 26, 1959.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 1959 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 23, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 17, 1972 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 28, 2017 | EF1 | Castleton | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 2004 | F1 | Wyoming | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2013 | Flash Flood | La Fayette | $9M |
| Apr 17, 2013 | Flash Flood | West Jersey | $5M |
| Jul 17, 1972 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 30, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bradford | $203K |
| Jul 11, 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | West Jersey | $125K |
| Feb 28, 2017 | Tornado | Castleton | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 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 Stark County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Stark County
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; 2,573 housing units.
Compare in Illinois
All 102 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Inland flooding | |
| DuPage County | Inland flooding | |
| Lake County | Inland flooding | |
| Will County | Inland flooding | |
| Kane County | Inland flooding | |
| McHenry County | Inland flooding | |
| Winnebago County | Inland flooding | |
| Madison County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria County | 13 | |
| Knox County | 9 | |
| Henry County | 14 | |
| Bureau County | 15 | |
| Marshall County | 12 |
Common questions about Stark County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Stark County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Stark County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1 million.
How many federal disasters has Stark County had?
Stark County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1999, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in May 2013.
Is Stark County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 99th 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 Stark County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Stark 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 Stark County had?
NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Stark County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 26, 1959. The weather service has also logged 44 hail reports and 23 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.