Photo: Sea Cow · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Naperville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Naperville gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #304 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 116 claims here since 1979.
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 Naperville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Naperville 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 Naperville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Naperville, and Naperville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #304 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Naperville’s residents live in 38 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, Naperville has less expected damage per building than 60% of Illinois towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Naperville has lower expected damage per building than 63% (#148 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $75.8M, is the 158th largest of those 400.
Does Naperville flood? Yes: 116 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Naperville, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms16 claims · $422K
- Hurricane Ike7 claims · $93K
Naperville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: DuPage County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Naperville
Disasters that paid out in Naperville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Naperville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng28 households applied for aid$54K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding919 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$374K to the City of Naperville for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$390K to the City of Naperville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding34 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding37 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$57K to the City of Naperville for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$189K to the City of Naperville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$263K to the City of Naperville for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 20 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 Naperville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Naperville archive →Naperville and its neighbors
Naperville is 8th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolingbrook | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Naperville Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Aurora | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 207 |
| Lisle Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 348 |
| Lisle | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Plainfield | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Milton Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 362 |
| Naperville | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 116 |
| Winfield Township | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| Warrenville | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
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 Naperville 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 Naperville
Is Naperville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Naperville has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #304 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Naperville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 116 claims in Naperville since 1979, $1.1M in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (16).
Is Naperville 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 DuPage County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Naperville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Naperville’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 Naperville?
By FEMA money that reached Naperville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 919 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved, and $374K to the City of Naperville for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 16 paid, $422K.
Is Naperville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Naperville’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Naperville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Naperville’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.