Photo: User:BillboardMister · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Addison’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Addison gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #91 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 475 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Addison’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Addison faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Addison’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Addison, and Addison’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 17% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #91 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Addison’s residents live in 13 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Addison has less expected damage per building than 88% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.4M a year in losses across Addison: $7.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Addison flood? Yes: 475 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Addison, from FEMA’s records: 35.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike106 claims · $4.0M
- The Mid-spring storms23 claims · $168K
Addison is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: DuPage County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Addison
Disasters that paid out in Addison itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Addison), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding118 households applied for aid$387K aid approved$31K to the Village of Addison for repairs24 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$82K to the Village of Addison for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding228 households applied for aid$695K aid approved20 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding293 households applied for aid$816K aid approved$263K to the Village of Addison for repairs108 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$43K to the Village of Addison for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$42K to the Village of Addison for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
DuPage County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Addison after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Addison archive →Addison and its neighbors
Addison is 3rd of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glendale Heights | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| Bloomingdale | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Addison | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 475 |
| Wood Dale | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 207 |
| Villa Park | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| Lombard | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 94 |
| Elmhurst | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 248 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Addison faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
- Addison residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Addison
Is Addison at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Addison has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #91 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Addison flood?
Flood insurance has paid 475 claims in Addison since 1978, $7.9M in all, or 35.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 41 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (106).
Is Addison in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In DuPage County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Addison?
Addison is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Addison?
By FEMA money that reached Addison, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 293 households applied for aid, $816K approved, and $263K to the Village of Addison for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 106 paid, $4.0M.
Is Addison at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Addison’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Addison.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Addison’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.