riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Cass County Disaster Risk

Cass County, Illinois

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

39th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#71

of 102 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

28th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 28% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 33% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Cass County

Risk Verdict

Cass County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 39th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Cass County, scoring in the 48th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 33th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (28th), hurricane (16th), wildfire (0th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Cass 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

Cass County is notably safer than the average county in Illinois. Its composite risk score is 15.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

Is your home insured against Cass County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Cass County, IL?
Cass County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 39th 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 Cass County?
Cass County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (48th percentile), tornado (33th percentile), flooding (28th percentile), hurricane (16th percentile), wildfire (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 48th 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 Cass County risk compare to the Illinois average?
Cass County's composite risk percentile is 39th, compared to the Illinois state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Cass County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Illinois.
Is Cass County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Cass County's earthquake risk is at the 48th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure. For flooding specifically, Cass County is at the 28th 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 Cass County a safe place to live?
Cass County's composite risk score of 39th 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 48th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Carroll County

Illinois

+0.4

Very Low

39th percentile

McDonough County

Illinois

-1.1

Very Low

38th percentile

Woodford County

Illinois

+1.3

Very Low

40th 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.

Explore more data for Cass County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score