FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Flora Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Flora Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #290 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 7 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
What Flora 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
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 Flora Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Flora Township, and Flora Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 13% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #290 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Flora Township’s residents live in 3 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, Flora Township has less expected damage per building than 62% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Flora Township: $761K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Flora Township flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Flora Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $18K
Flora 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: Boone County.The storms Flora Township remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for Boone County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Flora Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20133 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19781 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19991 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Boone 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 Flora Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Flora Township archive →Flora Township and its neighbors
Flora Township is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Valley Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Franklin Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Flora Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Belvidere Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Spring 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 Flora 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.
- 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 Flora Township
Is Flora Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Flora Township has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #290 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Flora Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Flora Township since 1978, $105K in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (2).
Is Flora 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 Boone County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Flora Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Flora 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 Flora Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 2 paid, $18K.
Is Flora Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Flora Township’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Flora Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Flora 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.