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Woodford County, Illinois

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

Very Low overall risk
69th of 102highest risk in Illinois
$22Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Woodford County, Illinois has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 60% of US counties. It ranks 69th of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $569 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in November 2013 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (103 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.1 million on 518 claims here, including $2.1 million for floods in 2013.

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

Top risks in Woodford County

$12.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow51.5
$12M
Cold waveModerate71.9
$4M
TornadoLow52.7
$2M
DroughtModerate70.2
$925K
Heat waveLow49.4
$634K
Strong windLow35.5
$624K
EarthquakeVery Low54.4
$609K
Ice stormLow46.3
$127K
LightningVery Low20.8
$125K
HailVery Low18.4
$114K
Winter weatherLow35.0
$65K
LandslideLow66.9
$8K
HurricaneVery Low16.1
$7K
WildfireVery Low3.3
$2K

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 very 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 Woodford County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Tornado1

Most recent

Nov 26, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 3, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 15, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
Mar 29, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & 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 467 storm reports in Woodford County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 14 injuries and about $75.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on July 13, 2004 near Metamora.

54tornadoes
138hail reports, largest 4 inches
225damaging thunderstorm winds
44floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 13, 2004F4Metamora3 / 0
Nov 17, 2013EF3Metamora4 / 0
Feb 28, 2017EF3Low Pt0 / 0
Jun 11, 2026EF3Cazenovia0 / 0
Mar 26, 1976F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 17, 2013TornadoMetamora$25M
Apr 19, 2013FloodSpring Bay$14M
Apr 17, 2013Flash FloodMetamora$13M
Jul 15, 2020FloodRoanoke$10M
Apr 17, 2013Flash FloodPeoria Hgts$5M
Jun 24, 2013Flash FloodSpring Bay$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Woodford County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (103 policies)
21.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.1 millionpaid on 518 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $2.1 million 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 Woodford County

$197,600median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.7%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; 15,758 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
Peoria CountyModerate13
McLean CountyModerate9
Tazewell CountyModerate13
LaSalle CountyModerate18
Livingston CountyLow9
Marshall CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Woodford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Woodford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Woodford County, about $12.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $4.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Woodford County had?

Woodford County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in November 2013.

Is Woodford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 69th 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 Woodford County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Woodford 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 Woodford County had?

NOAA records list 54 tornadoes in Woodford County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on July 13, 2004 near Metamora. The weather service has also logged 138 hail reports and 44 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.