Chicago & North Western Railway Stone Arch Bridge · Photo: TheCatalyst31 · CC0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Roscoe Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Roscoe Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #399 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 108 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 stands out about Roscoe Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Roscoe 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 Roscoe Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Roscoe Township, and Roscoe Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #399 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Roscoe Township’s residents live in 7 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, Roscoe Township has more expected damage per building than 52% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.4M a year in losses across Roscoe Township: $6.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Roscoe Township flood? Yes: 108 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Roscoe Township, from FEMA’s records: 14.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding7 claims · $39K
- The Mid-spring storms4 claims · $90K
Roscoe 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 Roscoe Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Winnebago County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Roscoe Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200820 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Winnebago County
- 199319 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Winnebago County
- 197917 flood claims paidThe year of Blizzards and Snowstorms, declared for Winnebago County
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 Roscoe Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Roscoe Township archive →Roscoe Township and its neighbors
Roscoe Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Harlem Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 488 |
| Machesney Park | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 378 |
| Manchester Township | — | 697 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Roscoe 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 Roscoe Township
Is Roscoe Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Roscoe Township has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #399 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Roscoe Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 108 claims in Roscoe Township since 1978, $1.2M in all, or 14.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (7).
Is Roscoe 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 Roscoe Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Roscoe 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 Roscoe Township?
By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 7 paid, $39K.
Is Roscoe Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Roscoe Township’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Roscoe Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Roscoe 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.