IL

Storm restoration across Peoria County

Peoria County sits in the heart of central Illinois's tornado alley corridor, recording 31 confirmed tornadoes since 1950 including an F4 near Kickapoo in 1976 and a destructive EF2 that struck Elmwood in 2010 causing roughly $85 million in damage. Derechos are a recurring warm-season hazard, with major events in 1998, 2023, and 2024 driving widespread straight-line wind damage and downed power lines across the county. The Illinois River at Peoria creates significant flood exposure during heavy rainfall years, with historic crests inundating homes, businesses, and portions of Interstate 74, while flash flooding affects creek and stream corridors throughout the county. Winter brings substantial ice storm and heavy snow risk, with ice accumulations regularly snapping tree limbs and causing extended power outages, and hail-producing supercells are common from April through June as moisture streams north from the Gulf.