Williamson County, Illinois
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Williamson County, Illinois has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $53 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $783 per resident. Since 1982 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 (141 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.1 million on 239 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Williamson 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.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 96.3 | $20M | ||
| Inland flooding | 69.9 | $12M | ||
| Strong wind | 99.1 | $7M | ||
| Cold wave | 86.9 | $5M | ||
| Tornado | 80.3 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 90.7 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 78.3 | $721K | ||
| Ice storm | 81.9 | $428K | ||
| Lightning | 67.7 | $409K | ||
| Winter weather | 89.8 | $364K | ||
| Drought | 54.2 | $178K | ||
| Hurricane | 44.5 | $39K | ||
| Landslide | 79.3 | $13K | ||
| Wildfire | 14.2 | $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 moderate 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 Williamson 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 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 370 storm reports in Williamson County since 1957, with 11 deaths and 237 injuries and about $496 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 29, 1982.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 1982 | F4 | – | 181 / 10 |
| May 16, 2025 | EF4 | Wolf Creek | 7 / 0 |
| Dec 18, 1957 | F4 | – | 10 / 0 |
| Nov 19, 1991 | F3 | – | 16 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 2024 | EF2 | Neilson | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 1982 | Tornado | – | $250M |
| May 8, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carterville | $175M |
| Nov 19, 1991 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 16, 2025 | Tornado | Wolf Creek | $25M |
| Jun 30, 2023 | Hail | Crainville | $10M |
| Dec 18, 1957 | Tornado | – | $3M |
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 Williamson 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 Williamson 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; 32,084 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 13 | |
| Franklin County | 8 | |
| Saline County | 7 | |
| Union County | 13 | |
| Johnson County | 5 |
Common questions about Williamson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Williamson County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Williamson County, about $19.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $11.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Williamson County had?
Williamson County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1982, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2011.
Is Williamson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 17th 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 Williamson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Williamson 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 Williamson County had?
NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Williamson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 29, 1982. The weather service has also logged 120 hail reports and 63 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.