Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1980. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 34% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding42%Cold waves26%Tornadoes17%Heat waves5%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

26% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

17% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Heat waves

5% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 24% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Washington flood?

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

12paid claims since 1980

$51Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

Mid-spring storms: 2 claims, $9K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Tazewell County.

Disasters that hit Washington

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for Tazewell County only

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

1,287 households applied for aid $1.0M aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

15 households applied for aid $19K aid approved $3K to the City of Washington for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$19K to the City of Washington for repairs

2006

Snow

$16K to the City of Washington for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$17K to the City of Washington for repairs

Tazewell County has had 13 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and winter storms.

Around Washington

Washington and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

East Peoriamostly inland floodingModerate

Washingtonmostly 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. Washington covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Washington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Washington. 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 Washington total about $2.3M 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.