Lee County, IL Environment & Hazard Risk

• Strong windRelatively High$1.8M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.1 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$1M/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$712K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.1 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.9M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$2.3M/yr expected annual loss, about 5.8 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$308K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 762 years
• Ice stormRelatively Low$67.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• LandslideVery Low$635/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years
• Heat waveVery Low$172K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.7 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$33.3K/yr expected annual loss, about 14 events a year
• LightningRelatively Low$119K/yr expected annual loss, about 42 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$4,621/yr expected annual loss, about once every 123 years
• WildfireVery Low$3,427/yr expected annual loss, about once every 18,697 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

93 of 16,175 (0.6%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

583

Insured in high-risk zones

82 (14%)

Flood claims since 1978

142

Claims paid since 1978

$730K

• Thunderstorm Wind165
• Hail99
• Winter Storm29
• Winter Weather23
• Tornado21
• Flash Flood18
• Drought16
• Extreme Cold/Wind Chill15
• High Wind14
• Cold/Wind Chill14

• TornadoEF2, 7.8 mi path, 880 yd wide06/23/2015

  Maytown, Lee County

  7 injured, $1M damage

  What happened

  Very significant tree damage occurred with many large trees snapped or uprooted in Woodhaven Lakes Camping Resort. At least one house was pushed off of its foundation. Several trees fell onto recreational vehicles and it was estimated that around 100 of the 300 homes in the area received some degree of damage. One person was taken to the hospital in serious condition, and six others were injured. Peak winds were estimated to be 130 mph. (Tornado 3 of 10).

• Thunderstorm Wind65 kt wind06/12/2001

  Countywide, Lee County

  1 injured, $55K damage

  What happened

  A weakening thunderstorm moved into western Lee county around 11 am CST on June 12th. Reports of wind speeds to 70 mph were received which knocked down trees, power lines, and utility poles across the entire county. One man suffered minor injuries when the construction trailer he was in was blown over by high winds. A tree fell on a garage in Dixon causing minor damage. A large light stand fell at a park in Dixon. Over 20,000 residents lost power.

• TornadoEF1, 3.62 mi path, 100 yd wide04/10/2015

  Franklin Grove, Lee County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  This is the beginning of the Rochelle-Fairdale EF-4 tornado. At its strongest, peak winds were estimated to be 200 mph. The tornado touched down just northeast of Franklin Grove. A large sheet metal building on IL-38 collapsed with failure of column anchorage. Several smaller sheet metal buildings were destroyed along E Gurler Road. Peak winds in Lee County were estimated to 110 mph. The tornado continued into Ogle County. (Tornado 2a of 7).

• Thunderstorm Wind87 kt wind06/24/2013

  Harmon, Lee County

  $100K damage

• TornadoEF1, 1.1 mi path, 50 yd wide10/26/2010

  Ashton, Lee County

  $100K damage

• TornadoEF2, 9.29 mi path, 350 yd wide04/01/2023

  Woodhaven Lakes, Lee County

  What happened

  The tornado touched down in the Woodhaven Lakes campground south of Amboy. There, multiple campers were damaged by the tornado including two that were rolled. Farther along its northeastward track, two trees had fallen onto a home destroying it. The tornado appeared to have reached its maximum intensity with wind speeds estimated at 115 mph shortly after crossing US Hwy 52 where it destroyed a large garage and snapped several trees at their trunks. Several dozen other large trees were snapped and many branches sheared off along its path. Toward the end of its lifespan, the tornado also did minor damage to an outbuilding before lifting near Butler Hill Rd north of West Brooklyn.

• DixonServes 15,096 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• WoodhavenServes 4,100 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• AmboyServes 2,500 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Dixon Correctional CenterServes 1,038 · Groundwater · StateNo health violations
• AshtonServes 967 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
• Franklin GroveServes 896 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+9 monitoring or reporting
• Paw PawServes 830 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• White Oaks Estates Water Assoc., INC.Serves 410 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations