FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in The Galena Territory than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, The Galena Territory gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then tornadoes (16%). 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 The Galena Territory 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
Hail
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 The Galena Territory’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in The Galena Territory, and The Galena Territory’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 16% (higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
The Galena Territory’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across The Galena Territory: $929K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does The Galena Territory flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in The Galena Territory. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
The Galena Territory isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jo Daviess County.The storms The Galena Territory remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Jo Daviess County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching The Galena Territory itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Jo Daviess County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
The Galena Territory and its neighbors
The Galena Territory is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| The Galena Territory | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| East Galena Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Elizabeth Township | — | 900 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 The Galena Territory 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 The Galena Territory
Is The Galena Territory at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, The Galena Territory has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and tornadoes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is The Galena Territory 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 Jo Daviess County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in The Galena Territory?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for The Galena Territory’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is The Galena Territory at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and The Galena Territory’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in The Galena Territory.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where The Galena Territory’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.