riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Christian County Disaster Risk

Christian County, Illinois

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

54th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#54

of 102 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

42th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 42% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 32% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Christian County, Illinois

Christian County faces below-average risk

Christian County's composite risk score of 54.04 sits near the national average, with a Relatively Low risk rating overall. While not risk-free, the county experiences more manageable hazard exposure than many American regions.

Moderate-risk county for Illinois

Christian County (54.04) sits slightly at the Illinois state average of 54.46, placing it in the middle tier of state counties by risk level. This positioning means Christian County residents face roughly typical hazards for Illinois.

Moderate risk among nearby counties

Christian County (54.04) ranks safer than Champaign County (90.46) and Coles County (70.36), but slightly riskier than Cass County (38.65). Its central position among neighboring counties reflects balanced exposure to regional hazards.

Earthquakes and tornadoes are primary concerns

Earthquake risk dominates Christian County's profile at 87.18, while tornado risk registers at 44.75. Together these exceed the county's overall average, suggesting seismic activity poses the most significant individual threat.

Earthquake insurance becomes increasingly important

Christian County residents should prioritize earthquake coverage as part of a comprehensive insurance strategy, given the county's notably elevated seismic score. Standard homeowners policies should be reviewed annually to ensure adequate tornado protection as well.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Christian County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    EarthquakePrepare
    87th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    45th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    42th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Risk Advisory: Christian County

Risk Verdict

Christian County's FEMA risk score places it at the 54th percentile nationally, indicating lower-than-typical exposure for a U.S. county. A moderate composite score often means one or two hazard categories are doing the heavy lifting — knowing which ones matters for preparation.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is Christian County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 87th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 45th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (42th percentile), hurricane (32th percentile), wildfire (9th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake ranked as the top hazard at the 87th percentile nationally, Christian County residents benefit from reviewing homeowners insurance: standard policies rarely cover earthquake damage, and separate earthquake insurance must be purchased before an event. Tornado at the 45th percentile nationally is a separate hazard dimension for Christian County that requires different protective strategies from earthquake preparedness. Earthquake insurance in Christian County is typically offered as a separate policy — standard homeowners coverage excludes ground movement. Reviewing this gap and comparing policy options before an event is a financial preparedness step with potentially large consequences.

Regional Context

Christian County sits within 0.4 composite points of the Illinois state average, suggesting the county's hazard exposure is representative of the broader regional pattern.

Is your household prepared for Christian County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Christian County, IL?
Christian County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 54th 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 Christian County?
Christian County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (87th percentile), tornado (45th percentile), flooding (42th percentile), hurricane (32th percentile), wildfire (9th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 87th 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 Christian County risk compare to the Illinois average?
Christian County's composite risk percentile is 54th, compared to the Illinois state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Christian County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Illinois.
Is Christian County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Christian County's earthquake risk is at the 87th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Christian County is at the 42th 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 Christian County a safe place to live?
Christian County's composite risk score of 54th 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 87th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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.