Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Shelbyville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shelbyville gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #366 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then earthquakes (15%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Shelbyville 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 Shelbyville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shelbyville, and Shelbyville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #366 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shelbyville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Shelbyville has less expected damage per building than 52% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Shelbyville: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shelbyville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Shelbyville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Shelbyville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Shelby County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shelbyville
Disasters that paid out in Shelbyville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Shelbyville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$37K to the City of Shelbyville for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$7K to the City of Shelbyville for repairs
Shelby County has had 7 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 Shelbyville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shelbyville archive →Shelbyville and its neighbors
Shelbyville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Shelbyville Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Okaw Township | — | 858 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 Shelbyville 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 Shelbyville
Is Shelbyville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shelbyville has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #366 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and earthquakes (15%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Shelbyville 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 Shelby County, 0.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Shelbyville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shelbyville’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 Shelbyville?
By FEMA money that reached Shelbyville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding (2002): $37K to the City of Shelbyville for repairs.
Is Shelbyville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Shelbyville’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shelbyville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shelbyville’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.