Lawrence County Hazard Profiles

Cyberattacks include any attempt to gain illegal access to a computer system with the intent to do harm. Malware, phishing, and ransomware, which have a wide range of injurious motivations, are the most common types of cyberattack.

Education systems, from grade schools to universities, are vulnerable to cyberattacks. In 2022, 45 school districts operating 1,981 schools were impacted across the US. There are two school districts in Lawrence County: Lawrence County CUSD 20 and Red Hill CUSD 10. Education computer systems contain significant PII making them especially vulnerable to ransomware attacks. A ransomware attack can cripple education systems, putting students’ education and employees’ jobs in jeopardy.

When a cyberattack on local government occurs, it can take months to recover. Essential services may be down for weeks or months, causing minor inconveniences, such as residents being unable to pay a water bill online, to major changes, such as Lawrence County first responders needing to keep track of emergency calls using pens and paper.

Lawrence County Memorial Hospital serves a primarily rural population where patients receive public health insurance through Medicare and Medicaid. In the Greater Wabash Region – which includes the counties of Crawford, Edwards, Lawrence, Wabash, Wayne, and White – over 40% of residents have public health insurance. A cyberattack on the hospital could impede its ability to bill Medicare and Medicaid, causing major financial difficulties and even hospital closure.

Drought is a normal, recurrent, and temporary feature of climate. Characteristics of drought vary from one region to another, but drought occurs almost everywhere. All societies are vulnerable to this natural hazard, and drought can affect vast territorial regions and large population numbers. A drought may not have a distinct start, and its termination may be difficult to recognize. Weather conditions, soil moisture, runoff, water table conditions, water quality and stream flow are all natural factors that are important in determining drought. High temperature, high wind and low relative humidity can significantly aggravate its severity.

Lawrence County has experienced multiple severe droughts (D2) since 2000. An exceptional drought (D4) occurred in the summer of 2012, causing significant crop loss.

Drought can occur anywhere in the county. The hazard extent of drought depends on the type of drought (e.g., meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, socioeconomic, snow, flash). An agricultural drought will affect farmland the most, while a hydrological drought will affect water reservoirs and supply. Outdoor occupations - such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting - employ 7% of people in Lawrence County and could be greatly affected by drought. Drought impacts are not limited to farmers and other outdoor professions. Residents may have to conserve water during droughts because drinking water across all of Lawrence County comes from groundwater.

Earthquakes are caused by a sudden slip on a fault, which is a fracture in the Earth’s crust where movement has occurred in the past. When a slip occurs, energy is released and energy waves travel through Earth’s crust, causing the shaking that we feel during an earthquake.

Earthquakes can be very dangerous and have the potential to cause widespread damage and loss of life. In Illinois, structures built on thick, loose sediments of river flood plains are more likely to be damaged than structures on glacial till (stiff, pebbly clay) or bedrock.

In the central part of the U.S., the bedrock is flat-lying, old, intact, and strong. Earthquake vibrations travel very far through material such as this in comparison to the young, broken, weak bedrock of the west coast. Because of this difference, Central U.S. earthquakes are felt and cause damage over, an area 15 to 20 times larger than California earthquakes with similar magnitudes. They can also trigger other natural hazards such as landslides and secondary impacts such as hazardous waste spills or leaks, fires, and dam or levee ruptures

Lawrence County lies near the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. Although the New Madrid Seismic Zone is more studied and well-known, it is possible that the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone may cause more damage because of more repeating events. In the past 20 years, there were three magnitude 5 or stronger earthquakes in the region.

In the event of a major earthquake on the New Madrid Seismic Zone, Lawrence County (in yellow) could experience moderate-to-high building damage. Because Illinois does not require building codes, jurisdictions that have not adopted building codes may be more vulnerable to earthquakes.

Extreme cold occurs when a cold air mass moves into an area and brings unusually cold temperatures for an extended period of time. A cold wave, a type of extreme cold, is defined as a rapid and significant drop in temperature over a 24-hour period, with the resulting temperatures significantly lower than the average for the time of year. The wind chill temperature, which combines temperature and wind speed, describes how cold air feels on your skin is commonly used to provide a value taking wind speeds into account.

Cold weather can cause water pipes to freeze and burst, leading to disruptions in water supply for homes and businesses. Damage to roofs, windows, and other structural components can occur in buildings that are not designed to withstand extreme cold temperatures. Extreme cold can cause power outages as a result of increased demand for electricity to heat homes and businesses. Lawrence County can expect to experience 28 days of temperatures below freezing and 17 days of temperatures below 20F, which is when pipes are more likely to freeze.

Extreme heat events occur as a result of above normal temperatures, which often coincide with high relative humidity. Extreme heat increases the likelihood of heat disorders among people and animals with prolonged exposure or strenuous activity. The heat index combines relative humidity and temperature to measure how hot it feels. As relative humidity increases, a given temperature can feel even hotter.

Heat waves can increase demand for electricity, which can lead to power outages and blackouts, particularly in areas with aging or stressed energy infrastructure. The increased demand for water due to extreme heat can have impacts on water sources, which can lead to reduced water quality and availability. Air conditioning and cooling centers are important tools for fighting heat-related illness. Lower-income households may not be able to afford air-conditioning, making them more susceptible to extreme heat. Smaller towns may not have a cooling center or the capacity to keep one staffed during the hottest parts of the day.

The entire county is at risk of extreme heat. However, the severity of a heat wave may be worsened by the urban heat island effect. Urban heat islands are densely built-up areas that have the ability to trap heat, warming the surrounding air. Lawrenceville is the most densely built-up region in Lawrence County, meaning it may be more susceptible to heat waves. Lawrence County can expect to experience 55 days or more with temperatures above 90F, which is when heat stroke can occur.

A dam is a barrier constructed across a watercourse in order to store, control, or divert water. A dam failure is the collapse, breach, or other failure of the structure that causes downstream flooding. Dam failures may result from natural events, human-caused events, or a combination.

A levee is a man-made structure, usually an earthen embankment, designed and constructed in accordance with sound engineering practices to contain, control, or divert the flow of water so as to reduce risk from temporary flooding. A levee can be breached (break or gap in the levee), overtopped (water levels exceed the levee and flow into protected areas), or a combination of the two. Levees are designed to reduce flood risk from flood events, but do not eliminate the hazard entirely.

The geographic extent of dam failure is mostly confined to areas downstream of dams. Red Hill Lake Dam the highest potential for negative impacts because it dams a recreation area. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). The geographic extent of levee failure is mostly confined to areas downstream of levees or behind levees. Russellville is behind the Russell-Allison-Ambraw Levee System, as are farmland, farm homes, and major roadways.

A flash flood is the rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area. Generally, flash flood events begin within six hours of the causative event, which includes heavy rainfall, rapid stream rise, dam/levee failure, and ice jams. It is most often caused by heavy rainfall. The intensity of the rainfall, the location and distribution of the rainfall, the land use and topography, river levels, and soil type all determine where and how quickly a flash flooding event may occur. Urbanized areas and rural roads are especially prone to flash floods because concrete and asphalt surfaces prevent water from draining into the soil. Water runs down the streets and can overwhelm stormwater and sewer systems, causing water to pool and rise.

Flash floods and their impacts can occur anywhere in the county, causing major destruction to infrastructure and property. Low-lying rural roads can be particularly vulnerable in part because roads and bridges can be washed away, making recovery efforts more difficult. The major local roads in Lawrence County – US Route 50, and State Highways 1, 33, and 250 – and many county roads have histories of flash flooding after heavy rain. Utility infrastructure is also vulnerable: flash floods can down utility poles and expose underground water and sewer lines by eroding the ground above. Downed power lines are especially dangerous because of their potential to cause electric shocks or electrical fires.

Flash floods can cause major damage to homes and buildings. Flood waters can cause structural damage, making them dangerous to enter and, in severe cases, uninhabitable. Gas leaks, electrical system damage, and sewage and water line damage in a home can leave residents without basic utilities

Health impacts are among the biggest environmental concerns during and after a flash flood. Floodwaters can contain sewage and toxic chemicals, exposing people to chemical hazards and diseases such as E. coli and Salmonella.

Flash floods can cause devastating crop loss on farms. If plant roots are underwater for several days, water and soil pathogens may cause plant disease or even death.

A riverine flood is defined as when rivers or streams exceed the capacity of their channels to accommodate water flow, overflowing into normally dry land. Riverine floods are generally caused by heavy rainfall, dam/levee failure, rapid snowmelt, or ice jams, and occur over longer periods than flash floods. Standing water can linger for days or weeks, disrupting daily life. Riverine flooding is more likely closer to a river, lake, or other surface water feature.

Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA), or floodplains, are areas on land that are at high risk for flooding. SFHAs have a 1% chance of flooding in a given year. In addition to the unincorporated areas of Lawrence County, all incorporated areas - Bridgeport, Lawrenceville, Russellville, St. Francisville, Sumner - are in SFHAs. Only Lawrenceville and Sumner are enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which makes flood insurance available to residents.

Riverine floods and their impacts primarily affect high hazard areas (SFHAs), or areas with a 1% chance of flooding in a given year. However, riverine floods can also affect areas with moderate or minimal flood hazard, or areas with a 0.2% chance of flooding. These floodplains can be found on FIRMs for Lawrence County and its jurisdictions at the online FEMA Flood Map Service Center ( https://msc.fema.gov/portal/advanceSearch ).

Hazardous materials incidents (HazMat) are events involving large-scale accidental or intentional releases of chemical, biological, or radiological (nuclear) materials. Hazardous materials events generally involve incidents at fixed-site facilities that manufacture, store, process, or otherwise handle hazardous materials or along transportation routes like major highways, railways, navigable waterways, and pipelines. Although HazMat incidents are typically human induced, natural hazards such as floods and tornadoes can cause HazMat spills. HazMat incidents have the potential to cause harm to humans, animals, and the natural and built environment.

Bridgeport, Lawrenceville, Russellville, and Sumner are most at risk of a HazMat incident occurring from a motor vehicle or railcar carrying hazardous materials because of their proximity to transportation corridors. Bridgeport, Lawrenceville, St. Francisville and Sumner are most at risk of a pipeline related HazMat incident.

The geographic extent of a HazMat spill occurring is primarily tied to its proximity to either a transportation route or a potential fixed-point source. The hazard extent can be wide ranging, particularly if the hazardous substance is a gas that can be spread miles from the point of the incident by high winds. Crude oil and saltwater spills, which are the most commonly reported hazmat incident in Lawrence County, can harm drinking water, as the county's water supply comes entirely from groundwater. Wildlife that live in or drink from streams can also be negatively impacted.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a pandemic involves the worldwide spread of a new infectious disease. Pandemics occur when new diseases or viruses develop the ability to spread rapidly. Humans may have little or no immunity against a new virus. Usually, a new virus cannot spread between animals and people, but it can easily spread if it mutates, and a pandemic may result. Seasonal flu epidemics generally occur because of a viral subtype that is already circulating among people.

The type and duration of a pandemic can cause unique impacts. In a short duration incident, there may be a medical surge at the beginning which tapers off as the incident goes on and may not result in significant disruption to everyday life. However, longer duration incidents may have significant impacts not only for the public health response, but also for business/industry and the economy.

Pandemic awareness, preparedness, and adequate staffing at the Lawrence County Health Office will be crucial for dealing with future pandemics. Lack of health insurance is also a vulnerability, as people exposed to illness materials may be less likely to seek treatment. Uninsured numbers are especially high in Bridgeport and Lawrenceville, where over 10% of the population is uninsured.

Hail is precipitation in the form of balls of irregular lumps of ice, typically from a thunderstorm. Hail occurs when updrafts in thunderstorms carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere where they freeze into ice. Hail can be the size of a pea or smaller, however larger hailstones can cause severe damage to buildings, vehicles, and plants.

Hail can be the size of a pea or smaller, however larger hailstones can cause severe damage to buildings, vehicles, and plants. Hailstones less than 1.0 inch in diameter are not considered severe, however, once a hailstone is 1.0 inch in diameter it has the potential to cause significant damage. Most hailstorms are made up of a mix of different sizes, and only the very largest hail stones pose serious risk to people caught in the open.

Hailstorm damage is widespread, impacting homes, businesses, agriculture and infrastructure. Hail can cause severe damage to homes and cars in the form of dents, broken windows, and roof damage. Hail can damage crops by breaking stems, bruising and tearing leaves, and damaging fruit.

In Lawrence County, 7% of the working population are employed in agriculture or outdoor fields. Severe weather may cause crop damage or prevent people from working, causing lost income.

Lightning is a transient, high-current electric discharge most commonly produced by thunderstorms. Lightning discharges can happen within and between thunderstorm clouds.

• Intra-cloud lightning: An electrical discharge between oppositely charged areas within the thunderstorm cloud.
• Cloud-to-ground lightning: A discharge between opposite charges in the cloud and on the ground.

Lightning appears as a “bolt” when the buildup of electric charge becomes strong, with the flash of light (bolt) occurring between the clouds and the ground. In a split second the bolt of lightning reaches a temperature approaching 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Thunder is the rapid heating and cooling of air near lightning. Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes are the most studied. Lightning occurs most frequently during the summer, although thunderstorms can happen at any time of year.

Lightning strikes can occur anywhere in the county, damaging infrastructure such as buildings, power lines, or cell phone towers. This can lead to disruption in power services, or damage that can be costly. Lightning is a major cause for damage to trees and forests, either by directly killing trees on strike or by igniting fires and burning large numbers of trees when conditions are conducive to the spread of wildfires.

In Lawrence County, 7% of the working population are employed in agriculture or outdoor fields. Severe weather may cause crop damage or prevent people from working, causing lost income.

Thunderstorms can cause several types of damaging wind. A downward rush of cool descending air from a thunderstorm is a downburst. The air rushing to the ground may look like a cloud or shaft of heavy rain. Once the air strikes the ground at a high speed, the air usually spreads out in all directions. The wind may be 100-150 miles per hour which is as strong as an EF1 or EF2 tornado. Downburst winds can damage roofs, overturn, or push mobile homes off foundations, push vehicles off the road, and destroy structures. A linear group of thunderstorms, typically ahead of a cold front, can produce what is known as “straight-line” winds. High winds from straight-line gusts can reach speeds of 40-50 mph, and up to 110 mph. The damage path can extend from tens to hundreds of miles. Thunderstorm downbursts and straight-line winds are the leading cause of wind related damage.

A derecho is a widespread, long-lived windstorm. Derechos are associated with bands of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms variously known as bow echoes, squall lines, or quasi-linear convective systems. For a wind event to be classified as a derecho, wind damage must extend at least 400 miles, be at least 60 miles wide, include wind gusts of at least 58 mph along most of its length, and also include several, well-separated 75 mph or greater gusts.

High winds can occur anywhere in the county, causing power lines to sway, break or fall, which can lead to power outages and disrupt daily life. They can also cause damage to buildings, including roof damage, broken windows, and collapsed walls. Strong winds can uproot trees, break branches, and cause debris to fly around, which can damage homes and buildings, and block roads.

Those living in manufactured or mobile homes are at risk due to many not being built to withstand strong winds. In addition to the physical vulnerability of living in a mobile home, these residents tend to be lower-income, compounding risk to wind damages. Mobile and manufactured homes constitute over 16% of the housing stock in Lawrence County.

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. Typically spawned by thunderstorms or other warm, humid, and windy weather, tornadoes generally move southwest to northeast but can quickly change direction at any time. Although tornadoes can occur at any time of day, half of all tornadoes in Illinois form between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. The peak tornado season in Illinois runs from March through June, but tornadoes can occur during any month.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale replaced the Fujita (F) Scale on February 1, 2007. EF ratings are assigned to tornadoes based on their estimated windspeeds and infrastructure damage.

Residential structures – manufactured or mobile homes in particular – are especially susceptible to tornado damage as they tend to be less structurally sturdy than larger buildings and other large-scale infrastructure. Manufactured or mobile homes can sustain damage from tornadoes with an intensity as low as EF-1, while well-constructed residential structures will start to see structural damage with EF-2 or EF-3 tornados. EF-4 and stronger tornadoes will level even sturdy residential structures. Large residential buildings, such as apartments or condominiums, will begin to sustain damage with EF-3 or EF-4 tornadoes and severe structural damage with an EF-5 tornado.

Those living in manufactured or mobile homes are at risk due to many not being built to withstand tornadoes. In addition to the physical vulnerability of living in a mobile home, these residents tend to be lower-income, compounding risk to tornado damage. Mobile and manufactured homes constitute over 16% of the housing stock in Lawrence County.

A wildfire is an unplanned wildland fire, including unauthorized human-caused fires, escaped wildland fire use events, and escaped prescribed fire projects. Wildfires can occur in Illinois under certain conditions, such as during periods of drought or when dry, windy weather patterns occur. Wildfires can start naturally or be caused by human activities such as campfires, fireworks, or power lines. The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) is the line, area, or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetation fuels. The WUI is often characterized by an abundance of highly flammable vegetation, which can act as fuel for the fire. When a wildfire enters the WUI, it can ignite homes and other structures, putting people's lives at risk and causing significant damage to property.

Nearly 85% of wildfires are caused by humans. Any place there are humans, there is a chance of wildfires. A wildfire that strikes farmland or wooded areas in the county may spread to homes and other structures. Farmland, wooded areas, and surrounding infrastructure may be more susceptible to wildfires. Up to 85% of homes in Lawrence County are directly or indirectly exposed to wildfire.

An ice storm is a storm which results in the accumulation of at least ¼ inches of ice on exposed surfaces. An ice storm can be caused by sleet or freezing rain. Sleet occurs when snowflakes only partially melt when they fall through a shallow layer of warm air. These slushy drops refreeze as they next fall through a deep layer of freezing air above the surface, and eventually reach the ground as frozen rain drops that bounce on impact. Freezing rain occurs when snowflakes descend into a warmer layer of air and melt completely. They instantly refreeze upon contact with anything that that is at or below 32°F, creating a glaze of ice on the ground, trees, power lines, or other objects.

Freezing rain and ice storms can occur during winter storms when rain freezes upon contact with cold surfaces. This ice accumulation can be particularly damaging to trees, power lines, and infrastructure. The weight of ice can cause branches and power lines to break, leading to power outages and hazardous conditions. Freezing temperatures accompanied by ice storms can lead to pipes bursting, causing damage to water supply and wastewater systems. Ice storms can also cause widespread transportation disruptions, including road closures and reduced or delayed public transportation. Repairing and restoring infrastructure can be expensive and result in significant economic costs for governments, businesses, and households. Lawrence County can expect 3 days of freezing rain every year.

A winter storm is a combination of heavy snow, blowing snow and/or dangerous wind chills. Precipitation falls as snow when the air temperature remains below freezing throughout the atmosphere. The NWS uses the following terms when talking about snow:

• Snow Flurries: Light snow falling for short durations. No accumulation or light dusting is all that is expected.
• Snow Showers: Snow falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Some accumulation is possible.
• Snow Squalls: Brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty winds. Accumulation may be significant. Snow squalls are best known in the Great Lakes Region.
• Blowing Snow: Wind-driven snow that reduces visibility and causes significant drifting. Blowing snow may be snow that is falling and/or loose snow on the ground picked up by the wind.
• Blizzards: Winds over 35mph with snow and blowing snow, reducing visibility to 1/4 mile or less for at least three hours.

Preparation for winter storms is a cost that many local governments incur. Repairing and restoring infrastructure can be expensive and result in significant economic costs for governments, businesses, and households. Winter storms, particularly those accompanied by heavy snow or strong winds, can cause damage to infrastructure such as power lines, roadways, bridges, and buildings. Roofs can collapse under the weight of snow or ice, and high winds can cause structural damage or topple trees onto buildings. Power outages can disrupt daily activities, including heating systems, telecommunication networks, and other essential services.

Like ice storms, winter storms bring the possibility of power outages and loss of heat in homes. This can lead people to resort to unsafe practices such as running a generator, gas stove, or using a barbecue or fire inside their house for warmth, resulting in house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. The elderly population, which makes up nearly 18% of the population in Lawrence County, could be disproportionately affected by snowstorms due to lack of power for life-sustaining equipment.