FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Central Township as in the typical U.S. town, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Central Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #424 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%), then earthquakes (35%). Flood insurance has paid 5 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 Central 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
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 Central Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Central Township, and Central Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 35% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #424 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Central Township’s residents live in 4 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, Central Township has more expected damage per building than 55% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Central Township: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Central Township flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Central Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Central 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: Bond County.The storms Central Township remembers
None of the 4 disasters declared for Bond County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Central Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20194 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Bond County has had 4 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Central Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Central Township archive →Central Township and its neighbors
Central Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Lagrange Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Old Ripley Township | — | 961 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Pleasant Mound Township | — | 813 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Mills Township | — | 407 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 Central 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.
- 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 Central Township
Is Central Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Central Township has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #424 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%) and earthquakes (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Central Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Central Township since 1979, $282K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Central 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 Bond County, 0.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Central Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Central Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Central Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Central Township’s rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Central Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Central 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.