North Grove School · Photo: lester1950 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Sycamore Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sycamore Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #232 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 21 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 Sycamore 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 Sycamore Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sycamore Township, and Sycamore Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B #232 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sycamore Township’s residents live in 5 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, Sycamore Township has less expected damage per building than 70% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.7M a year in losses across Sycamore Township: $5.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sycamore Township flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sycamore Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike4 claims · $40K
- The Mid-spring storms3 claims · $17K
Sycamore 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: DeKalb County.The storms Sycamore Township remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for DeKalb County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Sycamore Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20075 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for DeKalb County
- 19964 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for DeKalb County
- 20084 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for DeKalb County
DeKalb County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Sycamore Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sycamore Township archive →Sycamore Township and its neighbors
Sycamore Township is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cortland Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Sycamore | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Sycamore Township | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Mayfield Township | — | 851 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 Sycamore 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 Sycamore Township
Is Sycamore Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sycamore Township has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #232 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sycamore Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Sycamore Township since 1983, $235K in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (4).
Is Sycamore 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 DeKalb County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sycamore Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sycamore 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 Sycamore Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 4 paid, $40K.
Is Sycamore Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Sycamore Township’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sycamore Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sycamore 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.