More hazard damage per building is expected in Machesney Park than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Machesney Park gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #703 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 378 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 Machesney Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Machesney Park 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 Machesney Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Machesney Park, and Machesney Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #703 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Machesney Park’s residents live in 8 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, Machesney Park has more expected damage per building than 92% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.9M a year in losses across Machesney Park: $8.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Machesney Park flood? Yes: 378 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Machesney Park, from FEMA’s records: 41.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms11 claims · $129K
- The Midwest Flooding6 claims · $24K
Machesney Park 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Machesney Park
Disasters that paid out in Machesney Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Machesney Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng34 households applied for aid$30K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding21 households applied for aid$8K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$53K to the Village of Machesney Park for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$15K aid approved15 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding349 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$307K to the Village of Machesney Park for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$39K to the Village of Machesney Park for repairs
Show all 8
- 2006Snow$54K to the Village of Machesney Park for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$34K to the Village of Machesney Park for repairs27 flood claims paid 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 Machesney Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Machesney Park archive →Machesney Park and its neighbors
Machesney Park is 7th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 Machesney Park 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 Machesney Park
Is Machesney Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Machesney Park has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #703 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Machesney Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 378 claims in Machesney Park since 1978, $9.8M in all, or 41.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 53 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (11).
Is Machesney Park 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 Machesney Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Machesney Park’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 Machesney Park?
By FEMA money that reached Machesney Park, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 349 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved, and $307K to the Village of Machesney Park for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 11 paid, $129K.
Is Machesney Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Machesney Park’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Machesney Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Machesney Park’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.