Natural hazards · Galena

Galena, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Galena comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1985. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Galena?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Galena to be higher than in 59% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding57%Cold waves17%Tornadoes13%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Galena faces

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

Inland flooding

57% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

17% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 26 years in the area

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 Galena flood?

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

18paid claims since 1985

$293Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19852026

Biggest named events

Midwest Flooding: 1 claim, $305

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Jo Daviess County.

Disasters that hit Galena

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into GalenaDeclared for Jo Daviess County only

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$22K to the City of Galena for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

43 households applied for aid $100K aid approved $31K to the City of Galena for repairs

2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$13K to the City of Galena for repairs

1999

Severe Storms and Flash Flooding

$9K to the City of Galena for repairs

Jo Daviess County has had 14 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and winter storms.

Around Galena

Galena and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Galenamostly inland floodingModerate

West Galenamostly inland floodingModerate

East Galenamostly inland floodingModerate

Rawlinsmostly inland floodingModerate

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. Galena covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Galena’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Galena. 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 Galena total about $3.2M 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.