Photo: Jauerback · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Oswego 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, Oswego gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #229 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then tornadoes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1996.
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 Oswego 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 Oswego’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oswego, and Oswego’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 15% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
B #229 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oswego’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, Oswego has less expected damage per building than 70% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.5M a year in losses across Oswego: $10.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oswego flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oswego, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Oswego isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kendall County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oswego
Disasters that paid out in Oswego itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Oswego), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding186 households applied for aid$318K aid approved$131K to the Village of Oswego for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$495 aid approved
- 2006Snow$35K to the Village of Oswego for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$14K to the Village of Oswego for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$11K to the Village of Oswego for repairs
Kendall County has had 10 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 Oswego after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oswego archive →Oswego and its neighbors
Oswego is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 207 |
| Oswego | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Yorkville | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Montgomery | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 121 |
| Boulder Hill | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Oswego 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 Oswego
Is Oswego at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oswego has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #229 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oswego flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Oswego since 1996, $55K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Oswego 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 Kendall County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oswego?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oswego’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 Oswego?
By FEMA money that reached Oswego, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 186 households applied for aid, $318K approved, and $131K to the Village of Oswego for repairs.
Is Oswego at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Oswego’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oswego.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oswego’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.