Storms, floods and disasters in Towanda
Towanda isn’t graded for hazard risk: Towanda has 350 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1979.
What Towanda 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.
Does Towanda flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Towanda, from FEMA’s records.
Towanda isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: McLean County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Towanda
Disasters that paid out in Towanda itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Towanda), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$1K to the Village of Towanda for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$2K to the Village of Towanda for repairs
McLean County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Towanda after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Towanda archive →Get ready for what Towanda 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 Towanda
Does Towanda flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Towanda since 1979, $12K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Towanda 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 McLean County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Towanda?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Towanda’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 Towanda?
By FEMA money that reached Towanda, Il-winter Storm 1/1/99 (1999): $2K to the Village of Towanda for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Towanda.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Towanda’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.