Nicholas Jarrot Mansion · Photo: Rklawton · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Cahokia Heights faces more hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cahokia Heights gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #733 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then earthquakes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 83 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 Cahokia Heights’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cahokia Heights 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
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 Cahokia Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cahokia Heights, and Cahokia Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 22% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
D #733 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cahokia Heights’ residents live in 10 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, Cahokia Heights has more expected damage per building than 95% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.7M a year in losses across Cahokia Heights: $8.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cahokia Heights flood? Sometimes: 83 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cahokia Heights, from FEMA’s records: 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding10 claims · $16K
- The March storm2 claims · $4K
- The Late July Flooding1 claim · $8K
Cahokia Heights isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Clair County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cahokia Heights
Disasters that paid out in Cahokia Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cahokia Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng673 households applied for aid$2.9M aid approved14 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding453 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
St. Clair County has had 16 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 Cahokia Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cahokia Heights archive →Cahokia Heights and its neighbors
Cahokia Heights is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stookey Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Belleville | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| St. Louis | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 494 |
| Centreville Township | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 113 |
| Cahokia Heights | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 83 |
| Sugar Loaf Township | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| East St. Louis | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 388 |
| East St. Louis Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Sauget | — | 307 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 Cahokia Heights 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.
- 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 Cahokia Heights
Is Cahokia Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cahokia Heights has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #733 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and earthquakes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cahokia Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 83 claims in Cahokia Heights since 1979, $468K in all, or 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (10).
Is Cahokia Heights 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 St. Clair County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Cahokia Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cahokia Heights’ 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 Cahokia Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Cahokia Heights, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng (2024): 673 households applied for aid, $2.9M approved. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 10 paid, $16K.
Is Cahokia Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Cahokia Heights’ rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cahokia Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cahokia Heights’ 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.