Kankakee County, Illinois Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IL
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 88th
Kankakee County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.2, 88th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $68M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Kankakee County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 88.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 88th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Kankakee County's expected losses come from cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 3.79 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $48M in expected annual loss and about 1.46 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.57 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $68M in expected annual loss for a population of 107K.
Beyond physical exposure, Kankakee County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Kankakee County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 2 for biological events and 2 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 102 Illinois counties, Kankakee County ranks #13 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 3.79 / yr | $10M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.46 / yr | $48M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.57 / yr | $5M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.42 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.46 / yr | $986K |
| Hail | Low | 3.62 / yr | $427K |
| Lightning | Low | 44.98 / yr | $253K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.81 / yr | $73K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.00 / yr | $48K |
| Drought | Low | 0.58 / yr | $81K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $430 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $11K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Kankakee County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Snowstorm (2), Hurricane (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| January 2001 | Snowstorm | Illinois Winter Snow Storms |
| January 1999 | Snowstorm | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 |
| April 1973 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Kankakee County?
Kankakee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 88th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Kankakee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $10M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $48M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Kankakee County compare to other Illinois counties?
Kankakee County ranks #13 of 102 Illinois counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Kankakee County had?
FEMA records 7 federal disaster declarations for Kankakee County since 1973, most often 2 for biological events and 2 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in March 2020.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Kankakee County's $68M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.