More hazard damage per building is expected in Harlem Township than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harlem Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #591 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 488 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 Harlem Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Harlem 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 Harlem Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harlem Township, and Harlem Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
C #591 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Harlem Township’s residents live in 11 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, Harlem Township has more expected damage per building than 77% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.9M a year in losses across Harlem Township: $12.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Harlem Township flood? Yes: 488 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Harlem Township, from FEMA’s records: 30.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms12 claims · $168K
- The Midwest Flooding9 claims · $30K
Harlem 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: Winnebago County.The storms Harlem Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Winnebago County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Harlem Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 2008218 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Winnebago County
- 201965 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 197835 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Winnebago County has had 16 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 Harlem Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Harlem Township archive →Harlem Township and its neighbors
Harlem Township is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caledonia Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Loves Park | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Roscoe Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
| Rockford | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 562 |
| Roscoe | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Owen Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Harlem Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 488 |
| Machesney Park | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 378 |
| Rockford 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 Harlem 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 Harlem Township
Is Harlem Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harlem Township has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #591 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Harlem Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 488 claims in Harlem Township since 1978, $10.8M in all, or 30.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (12).
Is Harlem 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 Winnebago County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Harlem Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Harlem 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 Harlem Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 12 paid, $168K.
Is Harlem Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Harlem Township’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harlem Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Harlem 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.