Photo: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Arlington Heights faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Arlington Heights gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #304 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 43 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 Arlington Heights 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
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 Arlington Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Arlington Heights, and Arlington Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #304 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Arlington Heights’ residents live in 23 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, Arlington Heights has less expected damage per building than 60% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $37.8M a year in losses across Arlington Heights: $20.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Arlington Heights flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Arlington Heights, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $3K
Arlington Heights isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cook County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Arlington Heights
Disasters that paid out in Arlington Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Arlington Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng21 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$626 aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding25 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding42 households applied for aid$40K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$99K to the Village of Arlington Heights for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding39 households applied for aid$86K aid approved$39K to the Village of Arlington Heights for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$154K to the Village of Arlington Heights for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$71K to the Village of Arlington Heights for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$73K to the Village of Arlington Heights for repairs
Cook County has had 21 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 Arlington Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Arlington Heights archive →Arlington Heights and its neighbors
Arlington Heights is 3rd of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palatine | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Palatine Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Arlington Heights | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Rolling Meadows | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Buffalo Grove | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Wheeling Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 378 |
| Mount Prospect | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
| Wheeling | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 143 |
| Prospect Heights | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 71 |
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 Arlington Heights 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Arlington Heights
Is Arlington Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Arlington Heights has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #304 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Arlington Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in Arlington Heights since 1978, $145K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (1).
Is Arlington Heights 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 Cook County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Arlington Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Arlington Heights’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Arlington Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Arlington Heights, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): $154K to the Village of Arlington Heights for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 1 paid, $3K.
Is Arlington Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Arlington Heights’ rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Arlington Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Arlington Heights’ 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.