Jackson County, IL Environment & Hazard Risk

• Strong windVery High$5M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.6 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$20.1M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 121 years
• LandslideRelatively Moderate$92.4K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively High$328K/yr expected annual loss, about 8.1 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$2.4M/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively High$5.2M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$551K/yr expected annual loss, about 54 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$290K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• HailRelatively Moderate$601K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.8 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.3M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$206K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.1 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$30.4K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 66 years
• WildfireVery Low$2,855/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7,523 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

112 of 19,735 (0.6%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

857

Insured in high-risk zones

84 (10%)

Flood claims since 1978

118

Claims paid since 1978

$2.1M

• Flood159 · 1 death
• Thunderstorm Wind153 · 1 death
• Hail119
• Dense Fog104
• Strong Wind102
• Heat66
• Winter Weather63
• Frost/Freeze58
• Flash Flood44
• Winter Storm33 · 1 death

• Thunderstorm Wind92 kt wind05/08/2009

  Neunert, Jackson County

  1 death, 6 injured, $100M damage

  What happened

  Widespread wind damage occurred across Jackson County. Widespread damage to trees, power lines, and structures occurred as the comma head of a bow echo moved east across the county. In the city of Carbondale alone, officials reported 34 properties were deemed total losses from the storm. All but nine of those properties were mobile homes. Damage in the city alone (excluding Southern Illinois University) was estimated near 3 million dollars. Officials estimated about 3,000 trees were down or damaged in Carbondale alone, including the campus of Southern Illinois University. Officials in Murphysboro reported 17 dwellings in that city were total losses. One mobile home was blown over onto a car. Murphysboro officials also reported a police cruiser, a truck, and a mobile command center were destroyed. The city's public works garage was shifted off its foundation, and the city police station was damaged. The peak gust recorded by the automated system at the Carbondale airport was 81 mph before the system failed. An observer at the airport visually observed a separate anemometer located on the rooftop reach 106 mph. The automated system measured a sustained wind of 68 mph before...

• Heat08/06/2007

  Jackson

  37 injured

  What happened

  Surface high pressure located over the Deep South remained nearly stationary. A persistent hot and humid southwest wind flow around this high brought an extended period of dangerously high heat indices, ranging from 105 to 110 degrees on several afternoons. A number of persons were treated for heat exhaustion, including 37 at a Carbondale hospital. Several counties opened a cooling shelter.

• Winter Storm02/11/2008

  Jackson

  1 death, $500K damage

  What happened

  Low pressure developed over the southern Plains, spreading widespread heavy precipitation across southern Illinois. At the same time, high pressure over the upper Ohio Valley produced a cold easterly wind flow. The result was a crippling ice storm. Around one inch of ice caused extensive damage across far southern Illinois, along and south of a line from Carbondale and Marion to Harrisburg and Carmi. Many of those same areas received three to six inches of sleet and snow. The most destructive icing occurred in an east to west band across Union, Johnson, Massac, and Pope Counties. The state designated most counties in southern Illinois as a disaster area. Numerous trees and power lines were brought down, knocking out power to many thousands of homes. Power outages lasted up to a week. An indirect fatality occurred in Carbondale, where an elderly man died of carbon monoxide poisoning while operating a gasoline generator in his garage. Three carbon monoxide poisonings were reported in Christopher. All three victims, who were from the same family, were not seriously injured. Emergency shelters were established for those without power for extended periods. Schools were closed for a...

• Flood06/18/2008

  Grimsby, Jackson County

  1 death, $30K damage

  What happened

  Minor flooding of the Big Muddy River occurred. At the Murphysboro gage, the river crested at 24.39 feet on the 25th. Flood stage there is 22 feet. Some minor flooding affected houses just downstream of Bridge Street in Murphysboro. Lowland fields were inundated. A 28-year-old woman died when she lost control of her vehicle and plunged into the flooding river (indirect fatality).

• Cold/Wind Chill02/13/2014

  Jackson

  1 death

  What happened

  Very cold temperatures resulted in a fatality. During the early morning hours, a 19-year-old college student apparently died of hypothermia after spending the night in the woods. The student fled into the woods during an altercation with another person. He may have then become lost or disoriented in the woods. He was not wearing a coat or other clothing appropriate for the cold weather. The low temperature was 13 degrees at the Carbondale airport. Winds were nearly calm all night. A surface high pressure ridge was situated over the Lower Ohio Valley and southern Illinois. Clear skies and light winds allowed temperatures to fall through the teens.

• Lightning03/29/2007

  Carbondale, Jackson County

  1 death

  What happened

  An 18-year-old high school student was struck and killed by lightning at a track meet. The lightning strike occurred on the school's campus just before the start of the track meet. Witnesses stated there was little rain, thunder, or lightning prior to the fatal strike. The student was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

• CarbondaleServes 22,107 · Surface water · Local government3 health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• MurphysboroServes 10,241 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+4 monitoring or reporting
• South Highway PwdServes 4,972 · Purchased surface water · Local government3 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Murdale PwdServes 4,963 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Lakeside PwdServes 3,065 · Purchased surface water · Local government3 health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• De SotoServes 1,910 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• DowellServes 1,188 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• GorhamServes 1,143 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting