riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Coles County Disaster Risk

Coles County, Illinois

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

70th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#35

of 102 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

74th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 72% 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 39% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Coles County

Risk Verdict

Coles County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 70th 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 Coles County, scoring in the 87th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 74th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (72th), hurricane (39th), wildfire (10th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Coles County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as flood 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

Coles County is significantly riskier than the average county in Illinois. Its composite risk score is 15.9 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Coles County, IL?
Coles County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 70th 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 Coles County?
Coles County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (87th percentile), flooding (74th percentile), tornado (72th percentile), hurricane (39th percentile), wildfire (10th 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 Coles County risk compare to the Illinois average?
Coles County's composite risk percentile is 70th, compared to the Illinois state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Coles County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Illinois.
Is Coles County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Coles County's earthquake risk is at the 87th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Coles County is at the 74th 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.
Why is Coles County higher risk than average?
Coles County's composite risk score of 70th percentile is above the Illinois state average of 55th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (87th percentile), along with flooding and tornado risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Saline County

Illinois

-0.2

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Ogle County

Illinois

+0.7

Relatively Low

71th percentile

Morgan County

Illinois

+0.8

Relatively Low

71th 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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