Will County Historical Society Headquarters · Photo: Teemu08 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Lockport’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lockport gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #163 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 73 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 Lockport’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lockport 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 Lockport’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lockport, and Lockport’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 13% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #163 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lockport’s residents live in 9 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, Lockport has less expected damage per building than 79% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.9M a year in losses across Lockport: $7.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lockport flood? Sometimes: 73 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lockport, from FEMA’s records: 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lockport 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 Lockport
Disasters that paid out in Lockport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lockport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng68 households applied for aid$120K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding59 households applied for aid$72K aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the City of Lockport for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding46 households applied for aid$56K aid approved$22K to the City of Lockport for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Tornadoes4 households applied for aid$7K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 8
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$23K to the City of Lockport for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$21K to the City of Lockport for repairs
Will County has had 16 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 Lockport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lockport archive →Lockport and its neighbors
Lockport 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Lockport | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 73 |
| Homer Glen | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Bonnie Brae | — | 846 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Lockport Heights | — | 890 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Lockport 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 Lockport
Is Lockport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lockport has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #163 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lockport flood?
Flood insurance has paid 73 claims in Lockport since 1978, $538K in all, or 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Lockport 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 Lockport?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lockport’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 Lockport?
By FEMA money that reached Lockport, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng (2024): 68 households applied for aid, $120K approved.
Is Lockport at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Lockport’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lockport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lockport’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.