Photo: BonkerStonker29 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Champaign Township than in 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Champaign Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #483 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1983.
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 Champaign 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
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 Champaign Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Champaign Township, and Champaign Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #483 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Champaign Township’s residents live in 9 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, Champaign Township has more expected damage per building than 63% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.7M a year in losses across Champaign Township: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Champaign Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Champaign Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Champaign 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: Champaign County.The storms Champaign Township remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for Champaign County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Champaign Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20092 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19831 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Champaign County has had 8 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 Champaign Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Champaign Township archive →Champaign Township and its neighbors
Champaign Township is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hensley Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Savoy | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Urbana Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Tolono Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Champaign | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 105 |
| Champaign City Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Champaign Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Scott Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Champaign 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.
- 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 Champaign Township
Is Champaign Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Champaign Township has higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #483 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Champaign Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Champaign Township since 1983, $13K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Champaign 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 Champaign County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Champaign Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Champaign Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Champaign Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Champaign Township’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Champaign Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Champaign 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.