Photo: User:Onemessedzebra · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, St. Joseph faces more hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Joseph gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #732 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1983.
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 St. Joseph’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. Joseph, and St. Joseph’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
D #732 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
St. Joseph’s residents live in 2 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, St. Joseph has more expected damage per building than 95% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across St. Joseph: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does St. Joseph flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. Joseph, from FEMA’s records: 15.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Early winter storms1 claim · $10K
St. Joseph isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Champaign County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to St. Joseph
Disasters that paid out in St. Joseph itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of St. Joseph), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$4K to the Village of St. Joseph for repairs
Champaign County has had 8 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 St. Joseph after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. Joseph archive →Get ready for what St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph
Is St. Joseph at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Joseph has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #732 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. Joseph flood?
Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in St. Joseph since 1983, $336K in all, or 15.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early winter storms (1).
Is St. Joseph 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 Champaign County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in St. Joseph?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. Joseph’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 St. Joseph?
By FEMA money that reached St. Joseph, Il-winter Storm 1/1/99 (1999): $4K to the Village of St. Joseph for repairs. By flood claims, Early winter storms: 1 paid, $10K.
Is St. Joseph at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and St. Joseph’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Joseph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Joseph’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.