riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Alexander County Disaster Risk

Alexander County, Illinois

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

44th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#64

of 102 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

40th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 2% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 90% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Alexander County

Risk Verdict

Alexander County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 44th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Alexander County, scoring in the 90th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 43th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (40th), hurricane (21th), wildfire (2th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Alexander County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Alexander County is notably safer than the average county in Illinois. Its composite risk score is 10.4 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Alexander County, IL?
Alexander County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 44th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Alexander County?
Alexander County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (90th percentile), tornado (43th percentile), flooding (40th percentile), hurricane (21th percentile), wildfire (2th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 90th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Alexander County risk compare to the Illinois average?
Alexander County's composite risk percentile is 44th, compared to the Illinois state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Alexander County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Illinois.
Is Alexander County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Alexander County's earthquake risk is at the 90th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Alexander County is at the 40th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Alexander County a safe place to live?
Alexander County's composite risk score of 44th percentile is below the Illinois state average of 55th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is earthquake at the 90th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Moultrie County

Illinois

+1.0

Relatively Low

45th percentile

Mason County

Illinois

-1.0

Relatively Low

43th percentile

Monroe County

Illinois

-2.2

Very Low

42th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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