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Downtown Edwardsville IllinoisPhoto: Illinois2011 (Tyler Warren) · Public domain
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Edwardsville Township · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Edwardsville Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edwardsville Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #280 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%), then earthquakes (29%). Flood insurance has paid 40 claims here since 1978.

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

less than 55%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#280 of 768 in Illinois
By hazard

What Edwardsville 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

51%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

29%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts

Tornadoes

12%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

7%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms Strong wind Winter storms Lightning Hurricanes Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 14% of Edwardsville Township’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Edwardsville Township’s grade

River and rain flooding is 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Edwardsville Township, and Edwardsville Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 29% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Edwardsville Township sits
Edwardsville Township
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #280 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Edwardsville Township’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding51%Earthquakes29%Tornadoes12%Everything else9%

The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Edwardsville Township has less expected damage per building than 64% of Illinois towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.7M a year in losses across Edwardsville Township: $9.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Edwardsville Township covers 6 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Edwardsville Township flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Edwardsville Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 11 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 4 claims1983: 2 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 1 claim1986: 1 claim1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 4 claims1994: 1 claim1995: 1 claim1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 2 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 1 claim2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 2 claims2009: 2 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 1 claim2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 1 claim2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 1 claim2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197919821993
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The Midwest Flooding3 claims · $41K
  • Hurricane Ike1 claim · $16K
  • The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $6K
40
paid claims since 1978
$382K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$10K
average claim
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Edwardsville 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.
Disasters

The storms Edwardsville Township remembers

None of the 13 disasters declared for Madison County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Edwardsville Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.

  1. 197911 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Madison County
  2. 19824 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, declared for Madison County
  3. 19934 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Madison County
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Edwardsville TownshipMadison County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Edwardsville Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Edwardsville Township archive →
Next door

Edwardsville Township and its neighbors

Edwardsville Township is 2nd of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Glen CarbonBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding1
Edwardsville TownshipBless damage than 55%river and rain flooding40
MaryvilleB−less damage than 54%river and rain flooding5
EdwardsvilleB−less damage than 52%river and rain flooding4
Collinsville TownshipB−more damage than 54%river and rain flooding41
Fort Russell TownshipC+more damage than 63%river and rain flooding4
Pin Oak TownshipCmore damage than 68%river and rain flooding6
Chouteau TownshipCmore damage than 75%river and rain flooding47
Pontoon BeachDmore damage than 88%river and rain flooding29

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Edwardsville 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.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Edwardsville Township

Is Edwardsville Township at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edwardsville Township has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #280 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%) and earthquakes (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Edwardsville Township flood?

Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Edwardsville Township since 1978, $382K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (3).

Is Edwardsville 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 Edwardsville Township?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Edwardsville 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 Edwardsville Township?

By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 3 paid, $41K.

Is Edwardsville Township at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Edwardsville Township’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Edwardsville Township.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Edwardsville 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.