Photo: Sea Cow · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Aurora’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Aurora gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #175 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 207 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Aurora’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Aurora 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.
What’s behind Aurora’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Aurora, and Aurora’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 13% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #175 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Aurora’s residents live in 48 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Aurora has less expected damage per building than 77% of Illinois towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Aurora has lower expected damage per building than 78% (#89 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $61.9M, is the 197th largest of those 400.
Does Aurora flood? Yes: 207 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Aurora, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms30 claims · $229K
- Hurricane Ike7 claims · $43K
- The Midwest Flooding1 claim · $18K
Aurora is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Kane County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Aurora
Disasters that paid out in Aurora itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Aurora), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng12 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding716 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved30 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$467K to the City of Aurora for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding23 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding86 households applied for aid$126K aid approved8 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$162K to the City of Aurora for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$276K to the City of Aurora for repairs
Its 4 counties have had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Aurora after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Aurora archive →Aurora and its neighbors
Aurora is 5th of the 10 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Aurora | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Batavia | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Naperville Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Sugar Grove | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Aurora | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 207 |
| Oswego | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Naperville | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 116 |
| Winfield Township | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| Warrenville | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Montgomery | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 121 |
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 Aurora 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.
- Aurora residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Aurora
Is Aurora at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Aurora has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #175 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Aurora flood?
Flood insurance has paid 207 claims in Aurora since 1978, $3.1M in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (30).
Is Aurora 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 Kane County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Aurora?
Aurora is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Aurora?
By FEMA money that reached Aurora, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 716 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 30 paid, $229K.
Is Aurora at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Aurora’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Aurora.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Aurora’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.