Wayne County, IL Environment & Hazard Risk

• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$2.38M/yr expected annual loss, about 9.1 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$3.33M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 142 years
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$563K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.7 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$2,084/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• TornadoRelatively Low$1.17M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Cold waveRelatively Low$870K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$48.15K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.9 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Low$394K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$24.82K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 58 years
• Ice stormRelatively Low$44.67K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• HailVery Low$114K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.9 events a year
• LightningVery Low$83.9K/yr expected annual loss, about 50 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$615/yr expected annual loss, about once every 45,864 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

14 of 7,210 (0.2%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

0

Flood claims since 1978

12

Claims paid since 1978

$71.38K

• Dense Fog100
• Thunderstorm Wind85
• Winter Weather79
• Flood68 · 1 death
• Hail67
• Heat58 · 2 deaths
• Strong Wind51
• Frost/Freeze51
• Flash Flood36
• Drought27

• TornadoF3, 30 mi path, 500 yd wide04/21/2002

  Wayne City, Wayne County

  1 death, 42 injured, $4M damage

  What happened

  The tornado entered Wayne County about a half mile north of Illinois Route 15, then proceeded to move northeast to a point about 1.5 miles north of Wayne City. The tornado then paralleled Route 15 just north of Sims. The tornado continued moving east toward Fairfield, and passed through the southern part of Fairfield with F-3 intensity winds. The tornado then travelled slightly south of east toward Golden Gate. The tornado weakened east of Golden Gate and finally dissipated in extreme eastern Wayne County near Ellery. The sole fatality occurred 4 miles west of Wayne City, when a 47-year-old man was killed inside his mobile home. Of the 42 hospital-treated injuries, 13 were critical. A total of 35 homes were destroyed, and 16 received major damage. The average wind speed in the tornado was 130 to 170 MPH, with peak winds at or approaching 200 MPH. The F-3 damage was located near Sims, southern sections of Fairfield, near Merriam, and areas west and north of Wayne City. Vehicles were picked up and deposited in houses. Well-constructed houses lost roofs and some walls. Weaker structures, including a tavern near Sims, were demolished.

• Heat07/18/1999

  Wayne

  2 deaths

  What happened

  Prolonged heat and humidity during the latter half of July took its toll on the unprepared. Four fatalities were blamed on the heat, including two in Wayne County. Near Fairfield, a 78-year-old man died after driving his riding lawn mower to a trucking firm to gather landscape rocks. The man was found near a pile of rocks he had been gathering in 95-degree heat. Near Mount Erie, an 85-year-old man was found dead in his home. The windows were closed, and there was no air conditioning. Elsewhere in southern Illinois, a 53-year-old migrant worker died while laboring in a field near Shawneetown in Gallatin County. The man died at an Evansville hospital after suffering a heat stroke. The fourth death occurred in the Ohio River city of Metropolis, where an 82-year-old woman was found dead in her bathroom. This was the first time in his tenure as Massac County coroner that the cause of death was ruled as heat exhaustion. The woman did not use a fan in the house, and the indoor temperature was measured at 98 degrees. Daily highs were near 100 degrees on the 29th and 30th, with afternoon heat indices from 110 to 115 degrees. At Paducah, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Metropolis,...

• Heat07/21/2005

  Wayne

  20 injured

  What happened

  Several days of excessive heat and humidity caused a significant increase in heat-related illnesses. Hospitals reported that a majority of those treated were outdoor workers. The heat index peaked around 110 degrees each afternoon, and dropped to only around 80 degrees at night. True air temperatures reached the mid 90's, with overnight lows in the mid 70's. At Carbondale, the heat index topped out at 112 degrees on the 21st and the 22nd, 105 on the 23rd, 115 on the 24th, 106 on the 25th, and 109 on the 26th. These heat indices were representative of the rest of southern Illinois. The heat wave was the result of an expansive surface high pressure system extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. A light southerly wind flow, combined with moist ground from the remnants of Hurricane Dennis earlier in the month, allowed dew points to hover around 80 degrees.

• Flood12/25/2013

  Mt Erie, Wayne County

  1 death, $20K damage

  What happened

  Flooding of the Little Wabash River affected low-lying fields and woodlands. A 42-year-old woman died after driving her car into the backwaters of the Little Wabash River northeast of Fairfield. Using an airplane, state police located her body beneath ice not far from the abandoned car. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead of hypothermia.

• Drought09/01/2007

  Wayne

  $3.45M damage

  What happened

  Severe drought conditions that developed late in August persisted through September. The persistent 500 mb high over the southeast and south central U.S. started to break down at times, allowing an increase in rainfall. At Carbondale, the monthly rainfall was 2.19 inches. This rainfall was beneficial but not sufficient to improve drought conditions. Soil moisture in the top 12 inches of soil was running 20 to 50 percent below normal. This impacted the agricultural sector. Statewide across Illinois, 55 percent of pasture land was rated poor or very poor. The soybean crop sustained over 60 million dollars in losses in southern Illinois alone. Fire danger remained high for part of the month. A ban on outdoor burning was posted in Union and Hardin Counties for part of the month.

• Frost/Freeze04/08/2007

  Wayne

  $3M damage

  What happened

  This was the fourth and most extreme of several freezes on consecutive nights. Extensive damage occurred to some crops, gardens, and even trees. Record warmth in March preceded these freezes. Most growth was well ahead of schedule when the record cold struck. Low temperatures were near records for the entire month of April. Many lows were in the lower 20's. Significant damage occurred to vegetation. In particular, the apple, peach, and grape crops were virtually wiped out. Unprotected strawberry plots were wiped out. The fledgling winter wheat crop was heavily damaged in addition to some early planted corn. Blossoms on dogwood trees and other flowering trees and shrubs were lost. Foliage on trees such as oaks, maples, and Bradford pears was shrivelled and discolored. Only a few trees that were already under stress were killed.

• Dense Fog02/16/2026

  Wayne

• Drought02/10/2026

  Wayne

• Cold/Wind Chill01/30/2026

  Wayne

• Cold/Wind Chill01/26/2026

  Wayne

• Heavy Snow01/24/2026

  Wayne

• Cold/Wind Chill01/23/2026

  Wayne

• Strong Wind35 kt wind01/14/2026

  Wayne

  $1,000 damage

• Dense Fog11/24/2025

  Wayne

• Tropical Storm Olga (2019)10/25/2019 · 992 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby

• FairfieldServes 5,998 · Surface water · Local government1 health violation+19 monitoring or reporting
• Western Wayne Water DistrictServes 3,253 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Fairfield Rural Waterworks--JasperServes 1,578 · Purchased surface water · Private5 health violations
• Fairfield Rural Waterworks--New HopeServes 1,285 · Purchased surface water · Local government3 health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Wayne CityServes 1,239 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Fairfield Rural Waterworks--BoylestonServes 948 · Purchased surface water · Private1 health violation
• CisneServes 634 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Jeffersonville (Geff)Serves 355 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+22 monitoring or reporting