Embarras River Bridge · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA puts Wade Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wade Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #561 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then earthquakes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1985.
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 Wade 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
Earthquakes
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 Wade Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wade Township, and Wade Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #561 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wade Township’s residents live in 3 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, Wade Township has more expected damage per building than 73% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across Wade Township: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wade Township flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wade Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Early winter storms1 claim · $878
Wade 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: Jasper County.The storms Wade Township remembers
None of the 6 disasters declared for Jasper County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Wade Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19851 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19951 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20021 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, declared for Jasper County
Jasper County has had 6 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 Wade Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wade Township archive →Wade Township and its neighbors
Wade Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wade Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Crooked Creek Township | — | 736 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Smallwood Township | — | 415 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| North Muddy Township | — | 667 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Fox Township | — | 356 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Grove Township | — | 531 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Willow Hill Township | — | 584 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 Wade 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Wade Township
Is Wade Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wade Township has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #561 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and earthquakes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wade Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Wade Township since 1985, $111K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Early winter storms (1).
Is Wade 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 Jasper County, 0.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Wade Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wade 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 Wade Township?
By flood claims, Early winter storms: 1 paid, $878.
Is Wade Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Wade Township’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wade Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wade 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.