Illinois natural disasters & FEMA declarations
IL · 33rd most declarations of 51 states/DC
Illinois has had 68 federally declared disasters since 1957, the 33rd most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (26 declarations, about 38% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Floodng" (Flood), on Sep 20, 2024.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Illinois, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 26 | 38% |
| Flood | 19 | 28% |
| Tornado | 11 | 16% |
| Snowstorm | 7 | 10% |
| Biological | 2 | 3% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 2 | 3% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 59 |
| Emergency (EM) | 9 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Illinois's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 8 |
| 1980s | 8 |
| 1990s | 14 |
| 2000s | 18 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 7 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2024 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Floodng | Flood | DR-4819-IL |
| Nov 20, 2023 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | DR-4749-IL |
| Aug 15, 2023 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4728-IL |
| Oct 14, 2022 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | DR-4676-IL |
| Dec 13, 2021 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Tornado | EM-3577-IL |
| Mar 26, 2020 | Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | DR-4489-IL |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Illinois
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Illinois in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Illinois had?
Illinois has had 68 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1957, the 33rd most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Illinois?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Illinois is "Severe Storm", with 26 declarations — about 38% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Illinois?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Illinois in this snapshot was "Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Floodng" (Flood), declared Sep 20, 2024.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18