Greene County Disaster Risk
Greene County, Illinois
FEMA Risk Rating
Very Low
National Percentile
13th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#94
of 102 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
13th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Very Low
Higher than 13% 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 32% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 56% of US counties
Hurricane
Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk
Very Low
Higher than 18% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Greene County, Illinois
Greene County: safest in America's top tier
Greene County's composite risk score of just 12.98 places it among the safest counties in the entire United States, earning a "Very Low" rating. Residents here face remarkably low exposure to natural disasters compared to nearly all American communities.
Illinois's lowest-risk county
Greene County's 12.98 score sits over 41 points below Illinois's state average of 54.46, making it by far the state's safest region. No other county in this analysis comes remotely close to Greene's exceptional safety profile.
Dramatically safer than all peers
Greene County's 12.98 substantially outperforms every regional neighbor, from Gallatin (33.87) to Fulton (59.00) to Franklin (80.95). Greene residents enjoy an exceptionally favorable natural disaster risk profile across western Illinois.
Minimal hazard exposure across the board
Even Greene County's most significant risk—tornado at 31.90—ranks among the lowest in Illinois, and earthquake (55.82), flood (13.20), and hurricane (18.31) risks all remain negligible. Wildfire risk is essentially nonexistent at 0.25.
Basic homeowners insurance sufficient
Greene County's exceptional safety means standard homeowners insurance with wind/tornado coverage likely provides all the natural disaster protection most residents need. Earthquake insurance is unnecessary given Greene's minimal 55.82 earthquake score.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Greene County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Greene County
Risk Verdict
At the 13th percentile nationally, Greene County experiences relatively limited natural hazard pressure compared to most of the country. Greene County residents can take confidence from a 13th percentile ranking, but even lower-risk counties benefit from a practiced household communication plan and awareness of the specific hazards listed above.
Hazard Breakdown
Earthquake risk is Greene County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 56th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 32th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include hurricane (18th percentile), flood (13th percentile), wildfire (0th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Greene County ranks at the 56th percentile nationally for earthquake risk. Unlike most natural hazards, earthquakes provide no advance warning; preparedness here means structural adjustments and a practiced response, not alert monitoring. Alongside earthquake exposure, Greene County's tornado risk at the 32th percentile nationally reinforces the value of maintaining a household emergency supply cache usable for multiple hazard scenarios. For earthquake preparedness, Greene County's county emergency management office often maintains a list of community water supply points, Red Cross shelter locations, and post-quake assistance programs — useful resources to identify before an event occurs.
Regional Context
A composite score 41.5 points below the Illinois state average puts Greene County in a better-than-typical position relative to neighboring counties.
Is your household prepared for Greene County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Greene County, IL?
What types of natural hazards affect Greene County?
How does Greene County risk compare to the Illinois average?
Is Greene County at risk for earthquake?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Is Greene County a safe place to live?
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.