How Likely Is a Tornado in Lawrence County, IL?
Lawrence County, IL: what NOAA's tornado record says
Lawrence County has recorded 7 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 10.9 years - our Low band. Put another way: Lawrence County sees more tornado activity than 21% of US counties. Among 102 Illinois counties in this dataset, Lawrence County ranks 100 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
4 weak and 3 significant tornadoes make up Lawrence County's 7-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Lawrence County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Illinois has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Illinois this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Tornado outbreaks routinely knock out power across Illinois for days, separately from any single house getting hit. A portable battery bank keeps a fridge, phone chargers and a radio running through that gap - cheaper and faster to set up than a generator.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Lawrence County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 372 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Lawrence County has about 14,801 residents.