Natural hazards · Braidwood

Braidwood, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Braidwood comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2019. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Braidwood?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Braidwood to be higher than in 17% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding38%Cold waves30%Tornadoes25%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Braidwood faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

38% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 30% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Cold waves

30% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 18% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

25% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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

Flood insurance claims

Does Braidwood flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Braidwood, from FEMA’s records.

1paid claims since 2019

$40Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20192026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Braidwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Will County.

Disasters that hit Braidwood

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Braidwood itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Braidwood.

Brought FEMA money into BraidwoodDeclared for Will County only

2024

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng

30 households applied for aid $17K aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

1 household applied for aid

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

4 households applied for aid $15K aid approved $3K to the City of Braidwood for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$16K to the City of Braidwood for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

$11K to the City of Braidwood for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

6 households applied for aid $14K aid approved

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$17K to the City of Braidwood for repairs

Will County has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Braidwood

Braidwood and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Bracevillemostly inland floodingHigh

Diamondmostly cold wavesLow

Coal Citymostly cold wavesLow

Reedmostly inland floodingVery low

Braidwoodmostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Braidwood covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Braidwood’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Braidwood. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Braidwood total about $1.5M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.