Storms, floods and disasters in Pleasant Plains
Pleasant Plains isn’t graded for hazard risk: Pleasant Plains has 886 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1982.
What Pleasant Plains 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
Earthquakes
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.
Does Pleasant Plains flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pleasant Plains, from FEMA’s records.
Pleasant Plains isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sangamon County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pleasant Plains
Disasters that paid out in Pleasant Plains itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Pleasant Plains), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$2K to the Village of Pleasant Plains for repairs
- 2006Tornadoes and Severe Storms3 households applied for aid$700 aid approved
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$1K to the Village of Pleasant Plains for repairs
Sangamon County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Pleasant Plains after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pleasant Plains archive →Get ready for what Pleasant Plains 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Pleasant Plains
Does Pleasant Plains flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Pleasant Plains since 1982, $71K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Pleasant Plains 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 Sangamon County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pleasant Plains?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pleasant Plains’ 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 Pleasant Plains?
By FEMA money that reached Pleasant Plains, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $2K to the Village of Pleasant Plains for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pleasant Plains.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pleasant Plains’ 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.