Natural Disaster Risk in Greenfield

Natural Hazard Profile: Greenfield, Illinois

Greenfield is a small community of about 1,852 in Greene County, in the interior eastern United States. The area experiences bitterly cold winters and hot, humid summers, with a severe thunderstorm and tornado season each spring shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Greenfield.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Greenfield carries an overall risk score of 4.9/10, placing it in the moderate category. Slope instability and debris flows are the primary natural hazard, driven by a combination of local geology, precipitation intensity, and terrain that creates susceptibility to failure. The area also faces notable exposure to drought and heat.

Greenfield's risk score, slightly below the 5.8/10 state average and near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Greene County, the highest-scoring are landslide, drought, and heat. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

With a moderate risk rating, Greenfield residents are well-served by maintaining standard preparedness practices — an emergency supply kit, awareness of local hazard seasonality, and insurance that covers the top local risks. Periodic review of coverage for landslide is recommended.