Photo: vxla · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Calumet City than in 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Calumet City gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #628 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 380 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 Calumet City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Calumet City 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 Calumet City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Calumet City, and Calumet City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #628 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Calumet City’s residents live in 8 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, Calumet City has more expected damage per building than 82% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.9M a year in losses across Calumet City: $10.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Calumet City flood? Yes: 380 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Calumet City, from FEMA’s records: 23.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike85 claims · $524K
- The Mid-spring storms25 claims · $150K
- The Midwest Flooding1 claim · $5K
Calumet City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Cook County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Calumet City
Disasters that paid out in Calumet City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Calumet City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng1,872 households applied for aid$7.2M aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding3,079 households applied for aid$9.7M aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding3,386 households applied for aid$9.2M aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding2,340 households applied for aid$3.9M aid approved27 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding1,939 households applied for aid$5.1M aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding2,266 households applied for aid$2.5M aid approved92 flood claims paid that year
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 Calumet City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Calumet City archive →Calumet City and its neighbors
Calumet City is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 310 |
| Lansing | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 209 |
| Burnham | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Calumet City | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 380 |
| South Holland | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 494 |
| Dolton | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 294 |
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 Calumet City 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.
- Calumet City 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 Calumet City
Is Calumet City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Calumet City has higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #628 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Calumet City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 380 claims in Calumet City since 1978, $2.1M in all, or 23.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 28 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (85).
Is Calumet City 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 Calumet City?
Calumet City 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 Calumet City?
By FEMA money that reached Calumet City, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): 3,079 households applied for aid, $9.7M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 85 paid, $524K.
Is Calumet City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Calumet City’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Calumet City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Calumet City’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.