Photo: Teemu08 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Mokena faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mokena gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #371 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 5 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 Mokena 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 Mokena’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mokena, and Mokena’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #371 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mokena’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, Mokena has less expected damage per building than 52% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.9M a year in losses across Mokena: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mokena flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mokena, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mokena 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mokena
Disasters that paid out in Mokena itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Mokena), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng37 households applied for aid$133K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding14 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$64K to the Village of Mokena for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$5K to the Village of Mokena for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$36K to the Village of Mokena for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$30K to the Village of Mokena 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 Mokena after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mokena archive →Mokena and its neighbors
Mokena is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Lenox | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Arbury Hills | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Frankfort | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Tinley Park | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Mokena | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Mokena 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 Mokena
Is Mokena at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mokena has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #371 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mokena flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Mokena since 1978, $20K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Mokena 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 Mokena?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mokena’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 Mokena?
By FEMA money that reached Mokena, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng (2024): 37 households applied for aid, $133K approved.
Is Mokena at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Mokena’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mokena.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mokena’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.