McDonough County
Illinois — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 38th
McDonough County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 37.5, 38th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 4.23 / yr | $975K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.00 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Medium | 3.78 / yr | $584K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 4.37 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.29 / yr | $893K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.09 / yr | $148K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $3K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $380K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.21 / yr | $62K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.50 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Low | 46.26 / yr | $180K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 2.07 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $5K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $290 |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for McDonough County?
McDonough County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 37.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 38th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in McDonough County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $975K EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL), Hail (Medium, $584K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does McDonough County compare to other Illinois counties?
McDonough County ranks #72 of 102 Illinois counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
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. McDonough County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.