FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Canteen Township than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Canteen Township gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #729 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%), then earthquakes (32%). Flood insurance has paid 69 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 Canteen 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
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 Canteen Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Canteen Township, and Canteen Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 32% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
D #729 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Canteen Township’s residents live in 7 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, Canteen Township has more expected damage per building than 95% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.7M a year in losses across Canteen Township: $5.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Canteen Township flood? Sometimes: 69 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Canteen Township, from FEMA’s records: 17.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late July Flooding4 claims · $36K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $3K
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $3K
Canteen 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: St. Clair County.The storms Canteen Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for St. Clair County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Canteen Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199620 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for St. Clair County
- 199510 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for St. Clair County
- 20247 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng, declared for St. Clair County
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 Canteen Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Canteen Township archive →Canteen Township and its neighbors
Canteen Township is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stookey Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Fairview Heights | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Caseyville Township | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| Belleville | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Fairmont City | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Canteen Township | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Nameoki Township | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| East St. Louis | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 388 |
| Washington Park | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| East St. Louis Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Stites Township | — | 729 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 Canteen 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.
- 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 Canteen Township
Is Canteen Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Canteen Township has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #729 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%) and earthquakes (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Canteen Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 69 claims in Canteen Township since 1979, $389K in all, or 17.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Late July Flooding (4).
Is Canteen 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 St. Clair County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Canteen Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Canteen 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 Canteen Township?
By flood claims, Late July Flooding: 4 paid, $36K.
Is Canteen Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Canteen Township’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Canteen Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Canteen 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.