White and Company's Goose Lake Tile Works · Photo: Teemu08 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Goose Lake Township faces more hazard damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Goose Lake Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 105 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 stands out about Goose Lake Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Goose Lake 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 Goose Lake Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Goose Lake Township, and Goose Lake Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Goose Lake Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Goose Lake Township: $967K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Goose Lake Township flood? Yes: 105 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Goose Lake Township, from FEMA’s records: 183.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike15 claims · $477K
- The Mid-spring storms5 claims · $123K
- The Midwest Flooding1 claim · $20K
Goose Lake 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: Grundy County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Goose Lake Township
Disasters that paid out in Goose Lake Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Goose Lake Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$6K to Goose Lake Township for repairs
Grundy County has had 12 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 Goose Lake Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Goose Lake Township archive →Goose Lake Township and its neighbors
Goose Lake Township is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aux Sable Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
| Felix Township | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Goose Lake Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 105 |
| Morris Township | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wauponsee Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Wilmington 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 Goose Lake 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 Goose Lake Township
Is Goose Lake Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Goose Lake Township has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Goose Lake Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 105 claims in Goose Lake Township since 1978, $2.2M in all, or 183.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (15).
Is Goose Lake 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 Grundy County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Goose Lake Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Goose Lake 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 Goose Lake Township?
By FEMA money that reached Goose Lake Township, Il-winter Storm 1/1/99 (1999): $6K to Goose Lake Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 15 paid, $477K.
Is Goose Lake Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Goose Lake Township’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Goose Lake Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Goose Lake 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.