Adams County, IL Environment & Hazard Risk

• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$3.65M/yr expected annual loss, about 8.4 events a year
• Strong windRelatively High$2.23M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$1.28M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$4.44M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.3 events a year
• HailRelatively Moderate$857K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.4 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$14.12K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• LightningRelatively Moderate$679K/yr expected annual loss, about 47 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$645K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 548 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$107K/yr expected annual loss, about 10 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Low$1.84M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Ice stormRelatively Low$107K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.4 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$9,202/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• WildfireVery Low$1,840/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9,127 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

74 of 23,678 (0.3%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

243

Insured in high-risk zones

56 (23%)

Flood claims since 1978

374

Claims paid since 1978

$13.75M

• Thunderstorm Wind181
• Hail155
• Winter Storm32
• Flash Flood25
• Excessive Heat24 · 1 death
• Tornado21
• Heat20
• Flood12
• Heavy Snow10
• High Wind8

• Excessive Heat07/17/2011

  Adams

  1 death

  What happened

  A heat wave extending from July 17 through July 28 hit the area. There were a couple of days the heat broke, but for the most part it was continuous. High temperatures ranged from the lower to upper 90s with the Heat Index ranging form 105 to 110. There was one death reported in Quincy, IL due to the heat. A 90 year-old woman died in her home. There was no air conditioning and the windows were closed.

• Heat06/23/1998

  Adams

  7 injured

  What happened

  The first heat wave of the summer caused 1 death and over 120 heat related injuries. The bulk of the injuries in Madison County occurred at an NHRA drag racing event that was held at Gateway International Raceway June 25-28. The 1 death occurred in East St. Louis, St. Clair County.

• TornadoF2, 10 mi path, 300 yd wide05/11/2003

  Meyer, Adams County

  4 injured

  What happened

  The tornado that hit Canton, Missouri crossed the Mississippi River Lock and Dam 20 just southwest of Meyer. The tornado was weak, F0 in intensity, as it moved east northeast across the Illinois flood plain causing only sporadic tree damage. The tornado began to strengthen as it moved off the flood plain and severely damaged a home and garage along County Road 603 about 1 mile southwest of Lima. The tornado reached its maximum strength just southwest of Lima where it caused major damage. The tornado cut a 200-300 yard wide path of damage across the north side of Lima. About 40-50 structures were damaged by the tornado. Several barns and similar type buildings were destroyed as were 2 mobile homes. One frame house lost its entire roof with several others suffering major roof damage. There were only 4 injuries as everyone took shelter in basements or interior rooms.

• Ice Storm01/30/2002

  Adams

  1 injured

  What happened

  An ice storm struck parts of west central Illinois from the night of January 29 through the afternoon of January 30. With the temperature in the upper 20s to near 30, falling rain quickly froze on exposed surfaces such as trees and power lines. The hardest hit area was northwest Adams County. Local officials stated that they had not seen "anything like this in 50 years". Power outages were common with some residents without electricity for 2 to 3 days. A woman in Mendon suffered minor injuries when she was struck in the head by a falling tree branch.

• Thunderstorm Wind70 kt wind06/27/2011

  Coatsburg, Adams County

  1 injured

  What happened

  An intense bow echo moved through Coatsburg, Camp Point and Clayton. Hundreds of trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down. A couple of power poles were also snapped off. Several trees and tree limbs landed on homes causing minor to moderate roof damage. Also, in Camp Point the entire roof of a business was blown off. One woman was injured after falling down her basement steps as her family was taking shelter from the storm. It took more than an hour for an ambulance to respond to the woman's home near Coatsburg because of the downed trees blocking highways and lots of secondary roads.

• TornadoF1, 3 mi path, 75 yd wide06/14/1998

  Quincy, Adams County

  1 injured

  What happened

  A damaging tornado struck the Quincy,Illinois area, first downing some trees about 400 pm to the south southwest of town. The tornado weakened and moved northeast causing only minor tree damage. About 404 pm the tornado strengthened reaching F1 intensity about 1 mile south of Quincy near 24th St. and Payson Road. Two walls of the building housing the indoor pool of the Sheridan Swimming Club were blown away. The tornado had been spotted by lifeguards as it approached enabling all occupants to be moved to shelter areas. Only 1 minor injury occurred when a lifeguard was struck in the leg by flying glass. Numerous trees were downed in the area and a few storage sheds were destroyed. A nearby church suffered minor roof damage.

• Excessive Heat07/27/2026

  Adams

• Thunderstorm Wind54 kt wind04/18/2026

  (Uin)quincy Muni Arp, Adams County

• Thunderstorm Wind53 kt wind04/17/2026

  Beverly, Adams County

• TornadoEF1, 0.73 mi path, 50 yd wide04/16/2026

  Bigneck, Adams County

• Winter Storm11/29/2025

  Adams

• Thunderstorm Wind56 kt wind08/10/2025

  Quincy, Adams County

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/29/2025

  Quincy, Adams County

  $20K damage

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/12/2025

  Quincy, Adams County

• QuincyServes 42,000 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Abs Water CoopServes 7,095 · Purchased groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Mill Creek PwdServes 5,755 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Clayton-Camp Point Water CommissionServes 2,470 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• PaysonServes 1,386 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Camp PointServes 1,190 · Purchased groundwater · Local government3 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• MendonServes 953 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Adams County Water District No 1Serves 800 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting