Photo: Nlpictures · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, New Lenox Township 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, New Lenox Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #226 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 78 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 New Lenox Township 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 New Lenox Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Lenox Township, and New Lenox Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B #226 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Lenox Township’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, New Lenox Township has less expected damage per building than 71% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $23.8M a year in losses across New Lenox Township: $16.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Lenox Township flood? Sometimes: 78 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Lenox Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike6 claims · $85K
- The Mid-spring storms5 claims · $89K
New Lenox Township 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.The storms New Lenox Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Will County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching New Lenox Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 198213 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 199613 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Will County
- 198110 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes, declared for Will County
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 New Lenox Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Lenox Township archive →New Lenox Township and its neighbors
New Lenox Township is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homer Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| New Lenox Township | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 78 |
| Frankfort | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Frankfort Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Manhattan Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Joliet Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 635 |
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 New Lenox Township 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 New Lenox Township
Is New Lenox Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Lenox Township has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #226 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Lenox Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 78 claims in New Lenox Township since 1979, $775K in all, or 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (6).
Is New Lenox Township 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 New Lenox Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Lenox Township’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 New Lenox Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 6 paid, $85K.
Is New Lenox Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and New Lenox Township’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Lenox Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Lenox Township’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.