Beecher Mausoleum · Photo: Boscophotos · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Beecher faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beecher gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #276 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1981.
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 Beecher 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 Beecher’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Beecher, and Beecher’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
B #276 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Beecher’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Beecher has less expected damage per building than 64% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Beecher: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Beecher flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Beecher, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Beecher isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Will County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Beecher
Disasters that paid out in Beecher itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Beecher), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng23 households applied for aid$104K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$12K to the Village of Beecher for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$7K to the Village of Beecher for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$6K to the Village of Beecher for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$6K to the Village of Beecher for repairs
Will County has had 16 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 Beecher after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Beecher archive →Get ready for what Beecher 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 Beecher
Is Beecher at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beecher has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #276 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (12%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Beecher flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Beecher since 1981, $18K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Beecher 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 Will County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Beecher?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Beecher’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 Beecher?
By FEMA money that reached Beecher, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng (2024): 23 households applied for aid, $104K approved.
Is Beecher at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Beecher’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Beecher.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Beecher’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.