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Natural hazards · Rockford

Rockford, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Rockford comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 562 claims here since 1978. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Rockford?

53
Moderate
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Rockford to be higher than in 53% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding54%Cold waves18%Tornadoes16%Everything else12%
By hazard

What Rockford faces

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

Inland flooding

54% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

18% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 29% of U.S. places
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

16% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 79% 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 Rockford flood?

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

562paid claims since 1978
$11.8Mpaid to owners
91homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • Mid-spring storms: 1 claim, $11K

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 2 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (8) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Rockford is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Winnebago County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

142flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters that hit Rockford

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RockfordDeclared for Winnebago County only
2024

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

2,856 households applied for aid $5.8M aid approved
2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

94 households applied for aid $79K aid approved
2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$308K to the City of Rockford for repairs
2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

195 households applied for aid $201K aid approved
2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

109 households applied for aid $398K aid approved $9K to the City of Rockford for repairs
2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$388K to the City of Rockford for repairs
2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

727 households applied for aid $1.0M aid approved
2005

Hurricane Katrina Evacuation

$27K to the City of Rockford for repairs
2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$199K to the City of Rockford for repairs
Winnebago County has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and floods.
Around Rockford

Rockford and the towns around it

Loves Park: Moderate, mostly inland floodingNew Milford: Moderate, mostly inland floodingOwen: High, mostly inland floodingMachesney Park: High, mostly inland floodingCherry Valley: Very low, mostly inland floodingHarlem: High, mostly inland floodingRockford: Moderate, mostly inland floodingArgyle: Low, mostly inland floodingBelvidere: Moderate, mostly inland floodingRoscoe: Moderate, mostly inland floodingRockton: High, mostly inland floodingRockton: High, mostly inland floodingRoscoe: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBelvidere: Moderate, mostly inland floodingCherry Valley: Low, mostly inland floodingCaledonia: Low, mostly inland floodingWinnebago: Very low, mostly inland floodingMonroe: Low, mostly inland floodingScott: Moderate, mostly inland floodingByron: High, mostly inland floodingMarion: High, mostly inland floodingRockford: Moderate, mostly inland flooding RockfordLoves ParkNew MilfordOwenMachesney ParkCherry ValleyHarlemRockford
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Machesney Parkmostly inland floodingHigh
Owenmostly inland floodingHigh
Harlemmostly inland floodingHigh
Rockfordmostly inland floodingModerate
Rockfordmostly inland floodingModerate
Loves Parkmostly inland floodingModerate
New Milfordmostly inland floodingModerate
Cherry Valleymostly 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. Rockford covers 47 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Rockford’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Rockford. 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 Rockford total about $56.8M 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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01
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