Photo: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Joliet as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Joliet gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #428 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 630 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 Joliet’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Joliet 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 Joliet’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Joliet, and Joliet’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #428 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Joliet’s residents live in 52 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, Joliet has more expected damage per building than 56% of Illinois towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Joliet has lower expected damage per building than 50% (#200 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $70.6M, is the 168th largest of those 400.
Does Joliet flood? Yes: 630 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Joliet, from FEMA’s records: 11.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms7 claims · $107K
- Hurricane Ike7 claims · $120K
- Tropical Storm Erin1 claim · $7K
Joliet isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Will County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Joliet
Disasters that paid out in Joliet itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Joliet), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng1,214 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding670 households applied for aid$936K aid approved$53K to the City of Joliet for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$443K to the City of Joliet for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding457 households applied for aid$508K aid approved$17K to the City of Joliet for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding196 households applied for aid$361K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Tornadoes357 households applied for aid$310K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$126K to the City of Joliet for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$102K to the City of Joliet for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 18 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 Joliet after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Joliet archive →Joliet and its neighbors
Joliet is 9th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockdale | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Crest Hill | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Sunnyland | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Preston Heights | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| New Lenox | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Plainfield | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Ridgewood | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ingalls Park | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Joliet | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 630 |
| Crystal Lawns | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Shorewood | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
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 Joliet 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 Joliet
Is Joliet at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Joliet has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #428 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Joliet flood?
Flood insurance has paid 630 claims in Joliet since 1978, $3.1M in all, or 11.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 24 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (7).
Is Joliet 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 Will County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Joliet?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Joliet’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 Joliet?
By FEMA money that reached Joliet, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng (2024): 1,214 households applied for aid, $1.7M approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 7 paid, $107K.
Is Joliet at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Joliet’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Joliet.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Joliet’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.