Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Bloomington 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, Bloomington gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #296 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then tornadoes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 35 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 Bloomington’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bloomington 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 Bloomington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bloomington, and Bloomington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 15% (higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #296 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bloomington’s residents live in 26 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, Bloomington has less expected damage per building than 62% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $34.8M a year in losses across Bloomington: $19.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bloomington flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bloomington, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bloomington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: McLean County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bloomington
Disasters that paid out in Bloomington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bloomington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$122K to the City of Bloomington for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$50K to the City of Bloomington for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$60K to the City of Bloomington for repairs
McLean County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bloomington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bloomington archive →Bloomington and its neighbors
Bloomington is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Grove Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Twin Grove | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bloomington City Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Bloomington | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Normal | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Dale Township | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bloomington Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Old Town Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Towanda Township | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Normal 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 Bloomington 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 Bloomington
Is Bloomington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bloomington has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #296 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and tornadoes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bloomington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Bloomington since 1979, $271K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Bloomington 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 McLean County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bloomington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bloomington’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 Bloomington?
By FEMA money that reached Bloomington, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $122K to the City of Bloomington for repairs.
Is Bloomington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Bloomington’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bloomington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bloomington’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.