Natural hazards · Mattoon

Mattoon, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Mattoon comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1980. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Mattoon?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Mattoon to be higher than in 73% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding61%Earthquakes16%Tornadoes8%Cold waves8%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Mattoon faces

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

Inland flooding

61% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

16% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Cold waves

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 53% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong 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 Mattoon flood?

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

25paid claims since 1980

$184Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19802026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Coles County.

Disasters that hit Mattoon

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MattoonDeclared for Coles County only

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

$67K to the City of Mattoon for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$12K to the City of Mattoon for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

14 households applied for aid $25K aid approved $42K to the City of Mattoon for repairs

Coles County has had 7 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and tornadoes.

Around Mattoon

Mattoon and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Humboldtmostly inland floodingHigh

Mattoonmostly inland floodingHigh

Lafayettemostly inland floodingHigh

Charlestonmostly inland floodingModerate

Mattoonmostly 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. Mattoon covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Mattoon’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Mattoon. 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 Mattoon total about $2.7M 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.