Natural hazards · Oswego

Oswego, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Oswego comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1996. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Oswego?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Oswego to be higher than in 38% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding43%Cold waves32%Tornadoes18%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Oswego faces

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

Inland flooding

43% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 55% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

32% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 21% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

18% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 89% 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 Oswego flood?

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

4paid claims since 1996

$55Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19962026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Kendall County.

Disasters that hit Oswego

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OswegoDeclared for Kendall County only

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

186 households applied for aid $318K aid approved $131K to the Village of Oswego for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $495 aid approved

2006

Snow

$35K to the Village of Oswego for repairs

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$14K to the Village of Oswego for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$11K to the Village of Oswego for repairs

Kendall County has had 11 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and floods.

Around Oswego

Oswego and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Boulder Hillmostly inland floodingHigh

Yorkvillemostly inland floodingHigh

Montgomerymostly inland floodingHigh

Oswegomostly inland floodingLow

Auroramostly inland floodingLow

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. Oswego covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Oswego’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Village of Oswego. 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 Oswego total about $14.8M 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.