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Watseka Union DepotWatseka Union Depot · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Watseka · FEMA

FEMA puts Watseka’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Watseka gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #766 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 537 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 93%Tornadoes 3%Earthquakes 2%

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

more than 96%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#766 of 768 in Illinois
Hazard risk
D−#766 of 768
in Illinois · higher than 96% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
93% of expected building damage
Flood claims
537
paid since 1979 · $13.1M
Flooded more than once
59
properties · 7 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
10% off
Community discount (class 8)

What stands out about Watseka’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

537 paid flood claims since 1979$13.1M in all; 59 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 98% of U.S. towns.10% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Watseka residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8).Moved out of harm’s way58 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 2008228 flood claims were paid for 2008 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Watseka 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

93%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Earthquakes Hail Strong wind Hurricanes Wildfire Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves top 5% Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 21% of Watseka’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Watseka’s grade

River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Watseka, and Watseka’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Watseka sits
Watseka
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #766 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Watseka’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding93%Tornadoes3%Everything else4%

The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Watseka has more expected damage per building than 100% of Illinois towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.2M a year in losses across Watseka: $6.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Watseka covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Watseka flood? Yes: 537 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Watseka, from FEMA’s records: 220.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 1 claim1980: 1 claim1981: 1 claim1982: 2 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 1 claim1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 2 claims1991: 2 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 15 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 1 claim2005: 10 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 228 claims2009: 9 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 118 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 140 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200820152018
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Early winter storms35 claims · $361K
  • Hurricane Ike2 claims · $35K
537
paid claims since 1979
$13.1M
paid to owners
59
homes flooded more than once
$24K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (7)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount10% off flood insurance

Watseka is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Iroquois County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
58flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Watseka

Disasters that paid out in Watseka itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Watseka), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding685 households applied for aid$2.9M aid approved228 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$9K to the City of Watseka for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$15K to the City of Watseka for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in WatsekaIroquois County only

Iroquois 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Watseka after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Watseka archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Watseka faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Watseka residents get 10% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Watseka

Is Watseka at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Watseka has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #766 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Watseka flood?

Flood insurance has paid 537 claims in Watseka since 1979, $13.1M in all, or 220.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 59 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early winter storms (35).

Is Watseka 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 Iroquois County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.0% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Watseka?

Watseka is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Watseka?

By FEMA money that reached Watseka, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 685 households applied for aid, $2.9M approved. By flood claims, Early winter storms: 35 paid, $361K.

Is Watseka at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Watseka’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Watseka.

Town Square →
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Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Watseka’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.