Photo: MrHarman at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA puts Kankakee’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, Kankakee gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #725 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 59 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 Kankakee’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kankakee 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 Kankakee’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kankakee, and Kankakee’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
D #725 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kankakee’s residents live in 12 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, Kankakee has more expected damage per building than 94% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $14.2M a year in losses across Kankakee: $10.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kankakee flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kankakee, from FEMA’s records: 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Kankakee isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kankakee County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kankakee
Disasters that paid out in Kankakee itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Kankakee), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms and Tornadoes43 households applied for aid$48K aid approved
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$32K to the City of Kankakee for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$28K to the City of Kankakee for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Kankakee County has had 4 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Kankakee after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kankakee archive →Kankakee and its neighbors
Kankakee is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Kankakee | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Aroma Township | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 135 |
| Kankakee 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 Kankakee 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 Kankakee
Is Kankakee at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kankakee has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #725 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kankakee flood?
Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Kankakee since 1978, $443K in all, or 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Kankakee 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 Kankakee County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kankakee?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kankakee’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 Kankakee?
By FEMA money that reached Kankakee, Severe Storms and Tornadoes (2004): 43 households applied for aid, $48K approved.
Is Kankakee at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Kankakee’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kankakee.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kankakee’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.