Photo: Tyler Warren · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Bethalto 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, Bethalto gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #398 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then earthquakes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 7 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 Bethalto 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
Hail
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 Bethalto’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bethalto, and Bethalto’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 23% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #398 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bethalto’s residents live in 7 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, Bethalto has more expected damage per building than 52% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.2M a year in losses across Bethalto: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bethalto flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bethalto, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bethalto isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Madison County.The storms Bethalto remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Madison County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Bethalto itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19822 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, declared for Madison County
- 19791 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Madison County
- 19831 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, declared for Madison County
Madison County has had 13 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 Bethalto after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bethalto archive →Bethalto and its neighbors
Bethalto has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethalto | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Foster Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Moro Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fort Russell Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Rosewood Heights | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Wood River Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| Wood River | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Moro | — | 524 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Bethalto 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Bethalto
Is Bethalto at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bethalto has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #398 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and earthquakes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bethalto flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Bethalto since 1979, $97K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Bethalto 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 Madison County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Bethalto?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bethalto’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Bethalto at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Bethalto’s rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bethalto.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bethalto’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.