Williamson County

Illinois — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

85.8

National percentile: 86th

Williamson County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.8, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $53M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $53M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 67K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Strong Wind
Very High $7M/yr
Earthquake
Medium $20M/yr
Heat Wave
Medium $3M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Strong Wind Very High 4.08 / yr $7M
Earthquake Medium 0.01 / yr $20M
Heat Wave Medium 10.37 / yr $3M
Winter Weather High 7.63 / yr $364K
Cold Wave Medium 1.16 / yr $5M
Ice Storm Medium 0.79 / yr $428K
Tornado Medium 0.37 / yr $4M
Landslide Low 0.47 / yr $13K
Hail Medium 3.27 / yr $721K
Riverine Flood Low 2.04 / yr $12M
Lightning Medium 52.94 / yr $409K
Drought Low 3.23 / yr $178K
Hurricane Very Low 0.02 / yr $39K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $4K
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 Williamson County?

Williamson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.8 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Williamson County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Very High, $7M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $20M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Williamson County compare to other Illinois counties?

Williamson County ranks #17 of 102 Illinois counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. Williamson County's $53M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.