Storms, floods and disasters in Afton Township
Afton Township isn’t graded for hazard risk: Afton Township has 938 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1979.
What Afton Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
Does Afton Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Afton Township, from FEMA’s records.
Afton Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: DeKalb County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Afton Township
Disasters that paid out in Afton Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Afton Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to Afton Township for repairs
DeKalb County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Afton Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Afton Township archive →Afton Township and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shabbona Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Clinton Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Milan Township | — | 286 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Pierce Township | — | 554 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| DeKalb Township | — | not graded yet | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Afton Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Afton Township
Does Afton Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Afton Township since 1979, $4K in all.
Is Afton Township in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In DeKalb County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Afton Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Afton Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Afton Township?
By FEMA money that reached Afton Township, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $9K to Afton Township for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Afton Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Afton Township’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.