Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Bellwood faces more hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellwood gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #715 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 1,127 claims here since 1982.
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 Bellwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bellwood 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 Bellwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bellwood, and Bellwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 5% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
D #715 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bellwood’s residents live in 5 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, Bellwood has more expected damage per building than 93% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.1M a year in losses across Bellwood: $6.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bellwood flood? Yes: 1,127 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bellwood, from FEMA’s records: 177.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms256 claims · $2.7M
- Hurricane Ike72 claims · $325K
Bellwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cook County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bellwood
Disasters that paid out in Bellwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Bellwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng341 households applied for aid$820K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding111 households applied for aid$483K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding715 households applied for aid$2.7M aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding2,053 households applied for aid$5.1M aid approved259 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$37K to the Village of Bellwood for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding4,080 households applied for aid$15.1M aid approved485 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding716 households applied for aid$710K aid approved78 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$15K to the Village of Bellwood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$32K to the Village of Bellwood for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Cook County has had 21 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 Bellwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bellwood archive →Bellwood and its neighbors
Bellwood is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hillside | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Melrose Park | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 374 |
| Maywood | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Westchester | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 486 |
| Bellwood | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1,127 |
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 Bellwood 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 Bellwood
Is Bellwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellwood has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #715 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%) and tornadoes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bellwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,127 claims in Bellwood since 1982, $9.4M in all, or 177.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 246 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (256).
Is Bellwood 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 Cook County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bellwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bellwood’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 Bellwood?
By FEMA money that reached Bellwood, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 4,080 households applied for aid, $15.1M approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 256 paid, $2.7M.
Is Bellwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Bellwood’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bellwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bellwood’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.