riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Shelby County Disaster Risk

Shelby County, Illinois

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

52th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#56

of 102 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

48th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 13% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 79% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Shelby County

Risk Verdict

Shelby County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 52th 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 Shelby County, scoring in the 79th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 48th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (41th), tornado (40th), wildfire (13th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Shelby 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

Shelby County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Illinois. Its composite risk score is within 2.7 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Illinois as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Shelby County, IL?
Shelby County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 52th 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 Shelby County?
Shelby County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (79th percentile), flooding (48th percentile), hurricane (41th percentile), tornado (40th percentile), wildfire (13th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 79th 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 Shelby County risk compare to the Illinois average?
Shelby County's composite risk percentile is 52th, compared to the Illinois state average of 55th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Shelby County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Illinois.
Is Shelby County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Shelby County's earthquake risk is at the 79th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Shelby County is at the 48th 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 Shelby County a safe place to live?
Shelby County's composite risk score of 52th 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 79th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Jo Daviess County

Illinois

-0.4

Relatively Low

51th percentile

Johnson County

Illinois

-0.7

Relatively Low

51th percentile

Effingham County

Illinois

+2.0

Relatively Low

54th 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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