Kendall County, Illinois Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IL
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 80th
Kendall County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 80.2, 80th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $75M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Kendall County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 80.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 80th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $23M in expected annual loss and about 5.16 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $12M in expected annual loss and about 0.27 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 6.27 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $75M in expected annual loss for a population of 132K.
Beyond physical exposure, Kendall County has a very low 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: Kendall County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 4 for snowstorm events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 102 Illinois counties, Kendall County ranks #23 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 5.16 / yr | $23M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.27 / yr | $12M |
| Strong Wind | High | 6.27 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.00 / yr | $34M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 3.53 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 14.37 / yr | $113K |
| Drought | Low | 6.84 / yr | $185K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.93 / yr | $99K |
| Lightning | Low | 44.18 / yr | $295K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $861 |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.43 / yr | $150K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
| 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
Kendall County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Snowstorm (4), Flood (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| May 2013 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| October 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| December 2006 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 2001 | Snowstorm | Illinois Winter Snow Storms |
| January 1999 | Snowstorm | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 |
| July 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| August 1990 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Kendall County?
Kendall County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 80.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 80th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Kendall County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $23M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $12M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Kendall County compare to other Illinois counties?
Kendall County ranks #23 of 102 Illinois counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Kendall County had?
FEMA records 13 federal disaster declarations for Kendall County since 1973, most often 4 for snowstorm events and 3 for flood 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. Kendall County's $75M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.