Photo: Sea Cow · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Wheaton as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wheaton gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #302 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 152 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Wheaton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wheaton 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 Wheaton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wheaton, and Wheaton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #302 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wheaton’s residents live in 17 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, Wheaton has less expected damage per building than 61% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $22.1M a year in losses across Wheaton: $14.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wheaton flood? Yes: 152 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wheaton, from FEMA’s records: 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms29 claims · $584K
- Hurricane Ike11 claims · $96K
Wheaton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: DuPage County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wheaton
Disasters that paid out in Wheaton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wheaton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding396 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$92K to the City of Wheaton for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$86K to the City of Wheaton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding176 households applied for aid$408K aid approved16 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding65 households applied for aid$57K aid approved$28K to the City of Wheaton for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$49K to the City of Wheaton for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$80K to the City of Wheaton for repairs
DuPage County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Wheaton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wheaton archive →Wheaton and its neighbors
Wheaton is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carol Stream | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 123 |
| Lisle | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Glen Ellyn | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
| Milton Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 362 |
| Wheaton | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 152 |
| Winfield Township | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| Winfield | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
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 Wheaton 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.
- Wheaton residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Wheaton
Is Wheaton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wheaton has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #302 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wheaton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 152 claims in Wheaton since 1978, $1.3M in all, or 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 20 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (29).
Is Wheaton 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 DuPage County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wheaton?
Wheaton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Wheaton?
By FEMA money that reached Wheaton, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 396 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved, and $92K to the City of Wheaton for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 29 paid, $584K.
Is Wheaton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Wheaton’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wheaton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wheaton’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.