FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Chouteau Township than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chouteau Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #588 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (57%), then earthquakes (29%). Flood insurance has paid 47 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 Chouteau 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
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 Chouteau Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 57% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chouteau Township, and Chouteau Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 29% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
C #588 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chouteau 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, Chouteau Township has more expected damage per building than 77% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.0M a year in losses across Chouteau Township: $7.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chouteau Township flood? Sometimes: 47 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chouteau Township, from FEMA’s records: 13.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding14 claims · $484K
- The Early winter storms6 claims · $103K
Chouteau 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: Madison County.The storms Chouteau Township remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Madison County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Chouteau Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199517 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Madison County
- 199314 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Madison County
- 20156 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Madison County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Chouteau Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chouteau Township archive →Chouteau Township and its neighbors
Chouteau Township is 2nd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwardsville Township | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Chouteau Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Wood River Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| Venice Township | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| St. Louis | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 494 |
| Pontoon Beach | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Granite City | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Nameoki Township | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Granite City Township | — | not graded yet | |
| West Alton | — | 467 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 Chouteau 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.
- 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 Chouteau Township
Is Chouteau Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chouteau Township has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #588 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (57%) and earthquakes (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chouteau Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 47 claims in Chouteau Township since 1979, $969K in all, or 13.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (14).
Is Chouteau 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 Madison County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Chouteau Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chouteau 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 Chouteau Township?
By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 14 paid, $484K.
Is Chouteau Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (57%), and Chouteau Township’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chouteau Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chouteau 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.