riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Lawrence County Disaster Risk

Lawrence County, Illinois

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

49th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#59

of 102 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

58th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 58% 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

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 85% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Lawrence County

Risk Verdict

Lawrence County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 49th 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 Lawrence County, scoring in the 85th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 58th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (46th), hurricane (22th), wildfire (1th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Lawrence 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

Lawrence County is notably safer than the average county in Illinois. Its composite risk score is 5.2 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 Lawrence County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Lawrence County, IL?
Lawrence County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 49th 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 Lawrence County?
Lawrence County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (85th percentile), flooding (58th percentile), tornado (46th percentile), hurricane (22th percentile), wildfire (1th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 85th 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 Lawrence County risk compare to the Illinois average?
Lawrence County's composite risk percentile is 49th, compared to the Illinois state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Lawrence County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Illinois.
Is Lawrence County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Lawrence County's earthquake risk is at the 85th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Lawrence County is at the 58th 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 Lawrence County a safe place to live?
Lawrence County's composite risk score of 49th 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 85th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Pulaski County

Illinois

-0.2

Relatively Low

49th percentile

Fayette County

Illinois

-0.5

Relatively Low

49th percentile

Johnson County

Illinois

+1.8

Relatively Low

51th 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 Lawrence County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score