Photo: Boscophotos · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Rockton Township than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockton Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #585 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1978.
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 Rockton 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
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 Rockton Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rockton Township, and Rockton Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
C #585 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rockton Township’s residents live in 4 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, Rockton Township has more expected damage per building than 76% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.2M a year in losses across Rockton Township: $6.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rockton Township flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rockton Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding1 claim · $423
Rockton 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: Winnebago County.The storms Rockton Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Winnebago County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Rockton Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19792 flood claims paidThe year of Blizzards and Snowstorms, declared for Winnebago County
- 19932 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Winnebago County
- 19781 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Winnebago County has had 16 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 Rockton Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rockton Township archive →Rockton Township and its neighbors
Rockton Township is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beloit | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Roscoe Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
| Rockton | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Roscoe | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Owen Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Rockton Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Shirland 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 Rockton 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.
- 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 Rockton Township
Is Rockton Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockton Township has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #585 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rockton Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Rockton Township since 1978, $52K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (1).
Is Rockton 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 Winnebago County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rockton Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rockton 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 Rockton Township?
By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 1 paid, $423.
Is Rockton Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Rockton Township’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rockton Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rockton 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.