Photo: Andy McMurray · CC BY 2.5FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Bull Valley than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bull Valley gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then tornadoes (18%). 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 Bull Valley 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 Bull Valley’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bull Valley, and Bull Valley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 18% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
A lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bull Valley’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $432K a year in losses across Bull Valley: $276K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bull Valley flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Bull Valley. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Bull Valley isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: McHenry County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bull Valley
Disasters that paid out in Bull Valley itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Bull Valley), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Village of Bull Valley for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$9K to the Village of Bull Valley for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$2K to the Village of Bull Valley for repairs
McHenry County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bull Valley after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bull Valley archive →Bull Valley and its neighbors
Bull Valley is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodstock | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Bull Valley | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Greenwood Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Wonder Lake | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| McHenry | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| McHenry Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 173 |
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 Bull Valley 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 Bull Valley
Is Bull Valley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bull Valley has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and tornadoes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Bull Valley 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 McHenry County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bull Valley?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bull Valley’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 Bull Valley?
By FEMA money that reached Bull Valley, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $10K to the Village of Bull Valley for repairs.
Is Bull Valley at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Bull Valley’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bull Valley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bull Valley’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.