White County
Illinois — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 54th
White County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.3, 54th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $15M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $6M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.00 / yr | $102K |
| Drought | Medium | 5.58 / yr | $376K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 9.32 / yr | $624K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.30 / yr | $3K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.00 / yr | $664K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.36 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.67 / yr | $83K |
| Hail | Low | 2.99 / yr | $201K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 6.64 / yr | $5M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.16 / yr | $594K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $18K |
| Lightning | Low | 51.82 / yr | $108K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $699 |
| 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 White County?
White County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 54th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in White County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $6M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $102K EAL), Drought (Medium, $376K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does White County compare to other Illinois counties?
White County ranks #53 of 102 Illinois counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. White County's $15M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.