Photo: Leifrogers · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Plainfield 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, Plainfield gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #259 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 77 claims here since 1980.
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 Plainfield’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Plainfield 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 Plainfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plainfield, and Plainfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B #259 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plainfield’s residents live in 15 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, Plainfield has less expected damage per building than 66% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $23.6M a year in losses across Plainfield: $15.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plainfield flood? Sometimes: 77 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plainfield, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms21 claims · $838K
- Hurricane Ike11 claims · $182K
Plainfield 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 Plainfield
Disasters that paid out in Plainfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Plainfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng226 households applied for aid$653K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding235 households applied for aid$345K aid approved$100K to the Village of Plainfield for repairs21 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$124K to the Village of Plainfield for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding58 households applied for aid$65K aid approved$37K to the Village of Plainfield for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$25K to the Village of Plainfield for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$17K to the Village of Plainfield 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 Plainfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plainfield archive →Plainfield and its neighbors
Plainfield is 2nd of the 4 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 |
| Plainfield | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Naperville | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 116 |
| Joliet | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 630 |
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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield
Is Plainfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plainfield has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #259 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 Plainfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 77 claims in Plainfield since 1980, $2.0M in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (21).
Is Plainfield 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 Plainfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plainfield’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 Plainfield?
By FEMA money that reached Plainfield, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng (2024): 226 households applied for aid, $653K approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 21 paid, $838K.
Is Plainfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Plainfield’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plainfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plainfield’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.