FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Blackhawk Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blackhawk Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #430 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 201 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 Blackhawk Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Blackhawk Township 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
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 Blackhawk Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blackhawk Township, and Blackhawk Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #430 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Blackhawk Township’s residents live in 4 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, Blackhawk Township has more expected damage per building than 56% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Blackhawk Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blackhawk Township flood? Yes: 201 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Blackhawk Township, from FEMA’s records: 40.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms21 claims · $476K
- The Midwest Flooding8 claims · $110K
Blackhawk Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rock Island County.The storms Blackhawk Township remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Rock Island County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Blackhawk Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200843 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Rock Island County
- 197926 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Rock Island County
- 200220 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Rock Island County has had 12 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 Blackhawk Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Blackhawk Township archive →Blackhawk Township and its neighbors
Blackhawk Township is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Moline Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 715 |
| Davenport | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 898 |
| South Rock Island Township | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Bowling Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Blackhawk Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 201 |
| Milan | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Andalusia Township | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| Edgington Township | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Coal Valley Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Oak Grove | — | 277 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Rural Township | — | 778 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 Blackhawk Township 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.
- 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 Blackhawk Township
Is Blackhawk Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blackhawk Township has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #430 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Blackhawk Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 201 claims in Blackhawk Township since 1979, $2.7M in all, or 40.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (21).
Is Blackhawk Township 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 Rock Island County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Blackhawk Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blackhawk Township’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 Blackhawk Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 21 paid, $476K.
Is Blackhawk Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Blackhawk Township’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blackhawk Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blackhawk Township’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.