riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Edwards County Disaster Risk

Edwards County, Illinois

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

26th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#86

of 102 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

22th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 1% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Edwards County

Risk Verdict

Edwards County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 26th 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 Edwards County, scoring in the 84th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 30th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (23th), flood (22th), wildfire (1th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Edwards 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

Edwards County is notably safer than the average county in Illinois. Its composite risk score is 28.3 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 Edwards County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Edwards County, IL?
Edwards County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 26th 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 Edwards County?
Edwards County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (84th percentile), tornado (30th percentile), hurricane (23th percentile), flooding (22th percentile), wildfire (1th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 84th 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 Edwards County risk compare to the Illinois average?
Edwards County's composite risk percentile is 26th, compared to the Illinois state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Edwards County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Illinois.
Is Edwards County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Edwards County's earthquake risk is at the 84th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Edwards County is at the 22th 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 Edwards County a safe place to live?
Edwards County's composite risk score of 26th 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 84th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Ford County

Illinois

+0.1

Very Low

26th percentile

Cumberland County

Illinois

-0.3

Very Low

26th percentile

Marshall County

Illinois

+1.1

Very Low

27th 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 Edwards County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score