Natural hazards · Hamilton

Hamilton, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Hamilton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1982. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Hamilton?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Hamilton to be higher than in 60% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and heat waves.

Inland flooding33%Heat waves20%Cold waves18%Strong wind10%Tornadoes8%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Hamilton faces

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

Inland flooding

33% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Heat waves

20% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Recorded about 9 times a year in the area

Cold waves

18% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 56% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Strong wind

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 97 years in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Hamilton flood?

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

10paid claims since 1982

$160Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19822026

Biggest named events

Midwest Flooding: 4 claims, $47K
Mid-spring storms: 1 claim, $21K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Hancock County.

Disasters that hit Hamilton

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HamiltonDeclared for Hancock County only

2019

Severe Storms and Flooding

$11K to the City of Hamilton for repairs

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$53K to the City of Hamilton for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$6K to the City of Hamilton for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

7 households applied for aid $55K aid approved $35K to the City of Hamilton for repairs

2006

Snow

$4K to the City of Hamilton for repairs

2002

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

$6K to the City of Hamilton for repairs

2001

Flooding

$4K to the City of Hamilton for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$4K to the City of Hamilton for repairs

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

Around Hamilton

Hamilton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Keokukmostly inland floodingHigh

Hamiltonmostly inland floodingHigh

Montebellomostly inland floodingHigh

Rocky Run-Wilcoxmostly 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. Hamilton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Hamilton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Hamilton. 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 Hamilton total about $1.2M 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.