Washington County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Washington County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 51st of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,337 per resident. Since 2002 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and floodng). 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 Washington County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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 that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 90.5 | $6M | ||
| Inland flooding | 39.0 | $5M | ||
| Heat wave | 90.2 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 58.7 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 76.2 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 44.2 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 72.3 | $539K | ||
| Drought | 66.6 | $421K | ||
| Hail | 59.0 | $365K | ||
| Winter weather | 40.4 | $46K | ||
| Hurricane | 38.8 | $28K | ||
| Ice storm | 21.0 | $18K | ||
| Landslide | 61.1 | $3K | ||
| Wildfire | 3.9 | $1K |
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 moderate 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 Washington 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 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 327 storm reports in Washington County since 1953, with 3 deaths and 5 injuries and about $2.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on November 17, 2013 near Addieville.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF4 | Addieville | 2 / 2 |
| Mar 14, 1953 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 20, 1976 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 1961 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 8, 2009 | EF2 | Mc Kinley | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2014 | Lightning | Hoyleton | $1M |
| Apr 15, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oakdale And | $500K |
| Mar 14, 1953 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Feb 10, 1959 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 20, 1976 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 7, 2000 | Hail | Hoyleton | $200K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 16, 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 Washington 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 Washington 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; 6,415 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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County | 17 | |
| Marion County | 6 | |
| Jefferson County | 3 | |
| Clinton County | 5 | |
| Randolph County | 15 | |
| Perry County | 5 |
Common questions about Washington County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Washington County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Washington County, about $5.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Washington County had?
Washington County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2002, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng in September 2024.
Is Washington County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 51st 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 Washington County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Washington 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 Washington County had?
NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Washington County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on November 17, 2013 near Addieville. The weather service has also logged 134 hail reports and 16 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.