FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Bowling Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bowling Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #421 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then tornadoes (10%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Bowling 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 Bowling Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bowling Township, and Bowling Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #421 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bowling Township’s residents live in 3 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, Bowling Township has more expected damage per building than 55% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Bowling Township: $544K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bowling Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Bowling Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Bowling 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 Bowling Township remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Rock Island County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Bowling Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
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.
Bowling Township and its neighbors
Bowling Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Blackhawk Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 201 |
| Preemption Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Andalusia Township | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| Edgington Township | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rural Township | — | 778 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Coyne Center | — | 904 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Oak Grove | — | 277 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 Bowling 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 Bowling Township
Is Bowling Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bowling Township has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #421 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Bowling 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 Bowling Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bowling Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Bowling Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Bowling Township’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bowling Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bowling 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.