Photo: IvoShandor · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Fairbury’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairbury gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #727 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1981.
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 Fairbury 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
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 Fairbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fairbury, and Fairbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D #727 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fairbury’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, Fairbury has more expected damage per building than 95% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Fairbury: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fairbury flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fairbury, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Fairbury isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Livingston County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fairbury
Disasters that paid out in Fairbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Fairbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$5K to the City of Fairbury for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$40K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$2K to the City of Fairbury for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$7K to the City of Fairbury for repairs
Livingston County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Fairbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fairbury archive →Get ready for what Fairbury 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.
- 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 Fairbury
Is Fairbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairbury has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #727 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fairbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Fairbury since 1981, $6K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Fairbury 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 Livingston County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fairbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fairbury’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 Fairbury?
By FEMA money that reached Fairbury, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 9 households applied for aid, $40K approved.
Is Fairbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Fairbury’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fairbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fairbury’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.