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Dana-Thomas House, Lawrence Avenue and 4th Street, Springfield, IL - 53322374502Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Springfield · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Springfield as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Springfield gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #227 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 43 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 62%Tornadoes 17%Earthquakes 13%

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

less than 59%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#227 of 768 in Illinois
Hazard risk
B#227 of 768
in Illinois · lower than 59% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
62% of expected building damage
Flood claims
43
paid since 1979 · $779K
Flooded more than once
5
properties
Disasters paid out here
7
of 9 declared for Sangamon County

What stands out about Springfield’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Made safer with FEMA grants25 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 2 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.Remembers 19815 flood claims were paid for 1981 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Springfield 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

62%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

17%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts

Earthquakes

13%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Hail Strong wind Ice storms Winter storms Lightning Hurricanes Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 15% of Springfield’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Springfield’s grade

River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Springfield, and Springfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 17%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Springfield sits
Springfield
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #227 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Springfield’s residents live in 44 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding62%Tornadoes17%Earthquakes13%Everything else7%

The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Springfield has less expected damage per building than 71% of Illinois towns.

Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Springfield has lower expected damage per building than 71% (#117 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $62.1M, is the 196th largest of those 400.

A firm figure. It combines 44 census tracts by where Springfield’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Springfield flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Springfield, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 2 claims1980: 1 claim1981: 5 claims1982: 3 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 2 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 1 claim1991: 2 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 4 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 5 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 4 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 5 claims2015: 2 claims2016: 2 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 1 claim2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198119962014
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Early winter storms2 claims · $178K
  • Hurricane Ike1 claim · $5K
  • The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $34K
43
paid claims since 1979
$779K
paid to owners
5
homes flooded more than once
$18K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Springfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Sangamon County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
25flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
2storm safe rooms built
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Springfield

Disasters that paid out in Springfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Springfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$7.4M to the City of Springfield for repairs
  2. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$241K to the City of Springfield for repairs
  3. 2006Severe Winter Storm$2.3M to the City of Springfield for repairs
  4. 2006Tornadoes and Severe Storms1,347 households applied for aid$823K aid approved$7.8M to the City of Springfield for repairs
  5. 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$4K to the City of Springfield for repairs
  6. 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$138K to the City of Springfield for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
  1. 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$199K to the City of Springfield for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in SpringfieldSangamon County only

Sangamon County has had 9 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Springfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Springfield archive →
Next door

Springfield and its neighbors

Springfield is 5th of the 11 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Capital Township: hazard risk BSpringfield Township: hazard risk B+Curran Township: hazard risk BBall Township: hazard risk C+Gardner Township: hazard risk BRochester Township: hazard risk C+Clear Lake Township: hazard risk BWoodside Township: hazard risk BChatham: hazard risk C+Sherman: hazard risk B+Capital TownshipSpringfield TownshipCurran TownshipBall TownshipGardner TownshipRochester TownshipClear Lake TownshipWoodside TownshipChathamShermanSpringfield
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Springfield TownshipB+less damage than 70%river and rain flooding18
ShermanB+less damage than 70%river and rain flooding1
Curran TownshipBless damage than 61%river and rain flooding6
Capital TownshipBless damage than 59%river and rain flooding51
SpringfieldBless damage than 59%river and rain flooding43
Woodside TownshipBless damage than 58%river and rain flooding22
Gardner TownshipBless damage than 57%river and rain flooding1
Clear Lake TownshipBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding30
Ball TownshipC+more damage than 58%river and rain flooding5
ChathamC+more damage than 60%river and rain flooding25
Rochester TownshipC+more damage than 61%river and rain flooding6

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Springfield faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Springfield

Is Springfield at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Springfield has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #227 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Springfield flood?

Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in Springfield since 1979, $779K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early winter storms (2).

Is Springfield 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 Sangamon County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Springfield?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Springfield’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 Springfield?

By FEMA money that reached Springfield, Tornadoes and Severe Storms (2006): 1,347 households applied for aid, $823K approved, and $7.8M to the City of Springfield for repairs. By flood claims, Early winter storms: 2 paid, $178K.

Is Springfield at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Springfield’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Springfield.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Springfield’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.