John C. and Mary Robinson Farmstead · Photo: TheCatalyst31 · CC0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Union than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then tornadoes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2017.
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 Union 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 Union’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Union, and Union’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Lightning adds 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
A lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Union’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $771K a year in losses across Union: $447K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Union flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2017
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Union, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Union isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rock County.The storms Union remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Rock County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Union itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20171 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Rock 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 Union after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Union archive →Union and its neighbors
Union is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutland | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Evansville | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Union | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Brooklyn | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Magnolia | — | 864 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Porter | — | 961 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 Union 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 Union
Is Union at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and tornadoes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Union flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Union since 2017, $4K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Union 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 Rock County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Union?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Union’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Union at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Union’s rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Union.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Union’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.