Storms, floods and disasters in Malden
Malden isn’t graded for hazard risk: Malden has 460 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more.
What Malden 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
Earthquakes
Hail
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.
Does Malden flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Malden. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Malden isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bureau County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Malden
Disasters that paid out in Malden itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Malden), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$504 aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$2K to the Village of Malden for repairs
- 2006Snow$1K to the Village of Malden for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$776 to the Village of Malden for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$788 to the Village of Malden for repairs
Bureau County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Malden after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Malden archive →Get ready for what Malden 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Malden
Is Malden 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 Bureau County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Malden?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Malden’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 Malden?
By FEMA money that reached Malden, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $2K to the Village of Malden for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Malden.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Malden’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.