On FEMA’s figures, Richwoods Township faces less hazard damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richwoods Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #206 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then tornadoes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 291 claims here since 1979.
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 Richwoods Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Richwoods 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
Hail
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 Richwoods Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Richwoods Township, and Richwoods Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 15% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
B #206 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Richwoods Township’s residents live in 5 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, Richwoods Township has less expected damage per building than 73% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Richwoods Township: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Richwoods Township flood? Yes: 291 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Richwoods Township, from FEMA’s records: 91.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms18 claims · $630K
- Hurricane Ike5 claims · $83K
- The Early winter storms1 claim · $2K
Richwoods 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: Peoria County.The storms Richwoods Township remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Peoria County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Richwoods Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 198277 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, declared for Peoria County
- 197941 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Peoria County
- 198534 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Peoria County
Peoria County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Richwoods Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Richwoods Township archive →Richwoods Township and its neighbors
Richwoods 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Peoria | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 345 |
| Peoria City Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Richwoods Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 291 |
| Peoria Heights | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 330 |
| Medina Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Fondulac Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Spring Bay Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 393 |
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 Richwoods 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Richwoods Township
Is Richwoods Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richwoods Township has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #206 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and tornadoes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Richwoods Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 291 claims in Richwoods Township since 1979, $2.9M in all, or 91.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (18).
Is Richwoods 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 Peoria County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Richwoods Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Richwoods 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 Richwoods Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 18 paid, $630K.
Is Richwoods Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Richwoods Township’s rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Richwoods Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Richwoods 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.