Cedar Township’s building-damage rate from strong wind is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cedar Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #490 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), 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 Cedar 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
Strong wind
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 Cedar Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cedar Township, and Cedar Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 10%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #490 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cedar Township’s residents live in 2 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, Cedar Township has more expected damage per building than 64% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Cedar Township: $554K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cedar Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Cedar Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Cedar 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: Knox County.The storms Cedar Township remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for Knox County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Cedar Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Knox County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Cedar Township and its neighbors
Cedar Township is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Point Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cedar Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Orange Township | — | 566 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Floyd Township | — | 570 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Galesburg Township | — | 226 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 Cedar 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Cedar Township
Is Cedar Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cedar Township has higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #490 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Cedar 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 Knox County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cedar Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cedar Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Cedar Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Cedar Township’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cedar Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cedar 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.