Terwilliger House · Photo: Andy McMurray · CC BY 2.5More hazard damage per building is expected in Nunda Township than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nunda Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #576 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 228 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 Nunda Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Nunda 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 Nunda Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nunda Township, and Nunda Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C #576 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nunda Township’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, Nunda Township has more expected damage per building than 75% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $20.3M a year in losses across Nunda Township: $15.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nunda Township flood? Yes: 228 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nunda Township, from FEMA’s records: 15.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms41 claims · $890K
- The Midwest Flooding3 claims · $3K
- Tropical Storm Erin1 claim · $7K
Nunda 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: McHenry County.The storms Nunda Township remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for McHenry County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Nunda Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201341 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for McHenry County
- 197931 flood claims paidThe year of Blizzards and Snowstorms, declared for McHenry County
- 198626 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for McHenry County
McHenry County has had 13 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 Nunda Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nunda Township archive →Nunda Township and its neighbors
Nunda Township is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorr Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Wauconda Township | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Algonquin Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 192 |
| Nunda Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 228 |
| McHenry Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 173 |
| Lakemoor | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Oakwood Hills | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Port Barrington | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Ridgefield | — | 221 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Nunda 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 Nunda Township
Is Nunda Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nunda Township has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #576 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Nunda Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 228 claims in Nunda Township since 1978, $2.9M in all, or 15.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (41).
Is Nunda 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 McHenry County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Nunda Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nunda 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 Nunda Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 41 paid, $890K.
Is Nunda Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Nunda Township’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nunda Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nunda 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.