FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Pontoon Beach than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pontoon Beach gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #731 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then earthquakes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1995.
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 Pontoon Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pontoon Beach 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.
What’s behind Pontoon Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pontoon Beach, and Pontoon Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 20% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
D #731 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pontoon Beach’s residents live in 6 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, Pontoon Beach has more expected damage per building than 95% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.8M a year in losses across Pontoon Beach: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pontoon Beach flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pontoon Beach, from FEMA’s records: 11.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Early winter storms11 claims · $70K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $690
Pontoon Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Madison County.The storms Pontoon Beach remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Madison County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Pontoon Beach itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201511 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19958 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Madison County
- 20053 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Madison County has had 13 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 Pontoon Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pontoon Beach archive →Pontoon Beach and its neighbors
Pontoon Beach is 8th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Carbon | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Edwardsville Township | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Edwardsville | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Collinsville | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Mitchell | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Chouteau Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Madison | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Pontoon Beach | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Granite City | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Nameoki Township | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Granite City Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Pontoon Beach 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 Pontoon Beach
Is Pontoon Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pontoon Beach has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #731 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and earthquakes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pontoon Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Pontoon Beach since 1995, $125K in all, or 11.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early winter storms (11).
Is Pontoon Beach 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 Madison County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Pontoon Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pontoon Beach’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 Pontoon Beach?
By flood claims, Early winter storms: 11 paid, $70K.
Is Pontoon Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Pontoon Beach’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pontoon Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pontoon Beach’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.