riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Pope County Disaster Risk

Pope County, Illinois

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

15th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#93

of 102 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

17th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 17% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 8% 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 82% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 26% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Pope County

Risk Verdict

Pope County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 15th 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 Pope County, scoring in the 82th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 30th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (26th), flood (17th), wildfire (8th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Pope 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

Pope County is notably safer than the average county in Illinois. Its composite risk score is 39.6 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Pope County, IL?
Pope County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 15th 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 Pope County?
Pope County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (82th percentile), tornado (30th percentile), hurricane (26th percentile), flooding (17th percentile), wildfire (8th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 82th 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 Pope County risk compare to the Illinois average?
Pope County's composite risk percentile is 15th, compared to the Illinois state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Pope County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Illinois.
Is Pope County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Pope County's earthquake risk is at the 82th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Pope County is at the 17th 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 Pope County a safe place to live?
Pope County's composite risk score of 15th 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 82th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Warren County

Illinois

+0.6

Very Low

15th percentile

Greene County

Illinois

-1.9

Very Low

13th percentile

Henderson County

Illinois

+2.6

Very Low

18th 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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