Photo: artistmac · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Belleville than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belleville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #667 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%), then earthquakes (29%). Flood insurance has paid 38 claims here since 1979.
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 Belleville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Belleville 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
Earthquakes
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 Belleville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Belleville, and Belleville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 29% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #667 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Belleville’s residents live in 24 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, Belleville has more expected damage per building than 87% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $31.4M a year in losses across Belleville: $19.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Belleville flood? Sometimes: 38 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Belleville, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike3 claims · $17K
- The Mid-spring storms3 claims · $10K
- The March storm1 claim · $4K
Belleville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Clair County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Belleville
Disasters that paid out in Belleville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Belleville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng2,428 households applied for aid$6.8M aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding1,476 households applied for aid$3.5M aid approved
- 2006Severe Winter Storm$289K to the City of Belleville for repairs
St. Clair County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Belleville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Belleville archive →Belleville and its neighbors
Belleville is 7th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stookey Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Freeburg | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Shiloh Valley Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Swansea | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| St. Clair Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Smithton | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Belleville | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Centreville Township | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 113 |
| East St. Louis | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 388 |
| Smithton Township | — | not graded yet | |
| East St. Louis 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 Belleville 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Belleville
Is Belleville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belleville has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #667 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%) and earthquakes (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Belleville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 38 claims in Belleville since 1979, $472K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (3).
Is Belleville 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 St. Clair County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Belleville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Belleville’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 Belleville?
By FEMA money that reached Belleville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng (2024): 2,428 households applied for aid, $6.8M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 3 paid, $17K.
Is Belleville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Belleville’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Belleville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Belleville’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.